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Reproductive Cloning

Reproductive Cloning

Reproductive cloning is the process of producing a genetically identical copy—a clone—of an entire organism. While clones can be produced by splitting an early embryo—similar to what happens naturally with identical twins—cloning of adult animals is usually done by a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
In SCNT, an egg cell is taken from an animal and its nucleus is removed, creating an enucleated egg. Then a somatic cell—any cell that is not a sex...

Reproductive Cloning

Reproductive Cloning

Reproductive cloning is the process of producing a genetically identical copy—a clone—of an entire organism. While clones can be produced by splitting an early embryo—similar to what happens naturally with identical twins—cloning of adult animals is usually done by a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
In SCNT, an egg cell is taken from an animal and its nucleus is removed, creating an enucleated egg. Then a somatic cell—any cell that is not a sex...

Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation

Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation

The development of all multicellular organisms starts with the fusion of haploid cells called sperm and egg to form a diploid zygote. A zygote is a totipotent cell that can develop into a complete organism. The zygote undergoes cell division or cleavage to form an 8-cell mass. Until this stage, the cells are spherical, loosely attached, and remain totipotent. Totipotent cells are capable of developing both the embryonic and the extraembryonic tissues. However, as they continue to divide, they...

Whole Body Regeneration

Whole Body Regeneration

Regeneration is the process of restoring injured or lost tissues, organs, or body parts. While simpler organisms generally show greater ability to regenerate their whole body, few complex animals show similarly exceptional regeneration. For example, planarian flatworms have a unique regenerative potential making them a popular study organism among biologists to understand the mechanisms of whole body regeneration. Other organisms, such as hydra, also show extreme regeneration potential; even...

Introduction to Nuclear Reprogramming

Introduction to Nuclear Reprogramming

Nuclear reprogramming is the process of switching gene expression of one cell type to that of another cell type, usually from a differentiated cell state to an undifferentiated cell state. Differentiation occurs during processes such as development and morphogenesis, tissue regeneration, and malignancy. Cells can also be artificially induced to reprogram their gene expression by techniques such as nuclear transfer, induced pluripotency, and cell fusion. Such techniques have many applications in...

Cloning of Dolly the Sheep

Cloning of Dolly the Sheep

The first successfully cloned mammal was Dolly, a sheep, born on 5th July 1996 at Roslin Institute, Scotland. The cloned sheep was named after the American singer Dolly Parton. Dolly lived for seven years and died of respiratory complications, which is speculated to be due to the actual age of her DNA. Because the DNA in cloned cells belongs to an older individual, the cloned individual’s life expectancy may be affected. Indeed, analysis of Dolly’s DNA revealed shorter telomeres than other...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

High Throughput Microinjections of Sea Urchin Zygotes

High Throughput Microinjections of Sea Urchin Zygotes

Published on: January 21, 2014

Reproduction: widespread cloning in echinoderm larvae.

Alexandra A Eaves¹, A Richard Palmer

¹Physiology and Cell Biology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada. aeaves@ualberta.ca

|September 12, 2003

Summary

Larval cloning, a rare form of asexual reproduction, was observed in sea cucumbers, sand dollars, and sea urchins. This finding suggests larval cloning may be an ancient trait in echinoderms.

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Last Updated: Jul 12, 2026

High Throughput Microinjections of Sea Urchin Zygotes

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Functional Cloning Using a Xenopus Oocyte Expression System

Functional Cloning Using a Xenopus Oocyte Expression System

Published on: January 30, 2016

Area of Science:

Marine Biology
Developmental Biology
Echinoderm Research

Background:

Asexual reproduction in invertebrate larvae is rare and poorly understood.
Larval cloning was previously documented only in sea stars and brittle stars (Asteroidea and Ophiuroidea).
Despite extensive study, asexual reproduction has not been detected in other echinoderm classes.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the occurrence of spontaneous larval cloning in echinoderms beyond Asteroidea and Ophiuroidea.
To determine if larval cloning is a more widespread phenomenon within the Echinodermata phylum.
To assess the evolutionary implications of larval cloning in echinoderms and deuterostomes.

Main Methods:

Observation of spontaneous larval cloning in laboratory settings.
Focus on three species from two additional echinoderm classes: Holothuroidea (sea cucumber) and Echinoidea (sand dollar and sea urchin).

Main Results:

Spontaneous larval cloning was successfully documented in a sea cucumber species (Holothuroidea).
Larval cloning was also observed in a sand dollar and a sea urchin species (Echinoidea).
These findings expand the known occurrence of larval cloning to three additional echinoderm classes.

Conclusions:

Larval cloning is not restricted to Asteroidea and Ophiuroidea but occurs in Holothuroidea and Echinoidea.
The ability for larval cloning may be an ancient and conserved trait within the phylum Echinodermata.
This phenomenon could potentially extend to the broader group of deuterostomes, including vertebrates.