Angelo+Martinelli


 * __ Genetics Cloning Inc.  __**

**__ About Us: __** At Genetics Cloning Inc. we strive to produce the highest quality clones on the market. Our facility, which is located in Manhattan, was started by Angelo Martinelli in 1997. The business was started in his basement which now has expanded into a multi-million dollar company. They have been successfully cloning for over 13 years. Genetics Cloning employs over 1,000 of the greatest scientists in the country, and plan to expand internationally in the next 5 years. Here in Manhattan, Genetics Cloning Inc. is the #1 producer of cloned pets, specializing in dogs and cats.

**__ About Me: __** As founder, president, and CEO of Genetics Cloning, I have been working with the company from the very start. After going through high school being fascinated by genetics I decided to major in genetics and receive my PhD from NYU. After discovering the Genetics Cloning Inc. in my basement in 1997, the company and lab grew so large that we moved our headquarters to Manhattan, where I currently live. I have been living in New York for over 10 years and am currently living with my wife and 2 kids. I plan on running this company until I am no longer able to, and then pass on to my children.

**__ History of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer: __** The first major attempt at cloning occurred in Edinburgh, Scotland by Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell, who created Dolly the sheep through somatic cell nuclear transfer. Dolly is known to be the first cloned mammal from an adult somatic cell. After countless attempts Dolly was born on July 5, 1996 in the Rosaline Institute. However, after bearing 6 baby lambs, Dolly developed arthritis and later lung disease. After 6 years of age Dolly finally died on February 14, 2003, due to her ailments. Dolly is a great example today to scientists of the downside of cloning which include the fact that the clone is born the age of the donor, and that it could take over 100 tries to make a prefect clone. These downsides make it more likely for a clone like Dolly to develop illnesses that are very rare with such a young age. Since Dolly, scientists have continually been working and improving on the somatic cell nuclear transfer process and since then they have cloned animals such as:
 * 1952 – Tadpole
 * 1996 – Dolly the Sheep [[image:http://www.roslin.ed.ac.uk/assets/photos/dolly-and-bonny_523x618.jpg width="258" height="308" align="right" caption="Dolly and her first born lamb, Bonny"]]
 * 1997 – Mice
 * 1999 – Monkey
 * 2000 – Pig
 * 2001 – Wild Ox
 * 2001 – Cat
 * 2003 – Mule
 * 2005 – Dog
 * 2006 – Ferret
 * 2007 – Water Buffalo
 * 2007 – Grey Wolf
 * 2009 – Camel

**__ How to Clone Through SCNT: __** Somatic cell nuclear transfer requires two types of cells, a somatic cell and an egg cell. The first cell, the somatic cell, must be taken from the animal that is being cloned and has to be any cell other than the sperm cell or egg cell. The somatic cell in this process is also referred to as the “genetic donor”. This cell can be obtained by going to a veterinarian, who can perform a routine skin biopsy. The second cell that is required is the egg cell, which must be taken from a female of the same species as the somatic cell. The egg cell in this process is also referred to as the “egg donor”. To start off the process the scientist has to extract the nucleus from the egg cell. This is needed to remove the egg cells DNA or genes. The process by which the nucleus is removed from the egg cell is called enucleation. To carry out this process, a small straw is inserted very accurately into the cell and the nucleus is then slowly sucked out. After the nucleus of the cell is removed the somatic cell is then placed into the egg cell. To get the somatic cell to properly insert itself into he egg, they must undergo either chemical fusion or a series of small controlled electrical shocks. After the somatic cell is fused with the egg, the scientist must stimulate it so it can be activated. The purpose for the cell to be activated is so the cell can properly divide just as it would if it had been fertilized by sperm. Once the cell is activated and dividing, it is placed in a culture medium where it will stay for several days before being transferred into the uterus. Once the egg is ready to be transferred a surrogate mother is found and the egg is implanted into the mother’s uterus. Once the mother has gone through a full term of pregnancy, the clone is born. However, this process must be done with extreme accuracy and can take a countless number of times until the perfect clone is created of the genetic donor.

**__ Current Uses of SCNT: __** Somatic cell nuclear transfer is used to duplicate and clone different animals and maybe even humans. The list of different uses of this technology include, cloning pets, lab animals, endangered species, and maybe even humans. Cloning pets is being done because no one wants to let go of their favorite dog. Because of this, these people can collect a somatic cell to be used for the clones genetics while the dog is young enough, and later use it to clone that pet once it has passed away. Another use of somatic cell nuclear transfer is to clone lab animals such as rats. This is extremely important because if you have a whole set of lab rats that are essentially genetically identical then there is less room for error. This makes it so you don’t have to factor out different variables in your experiment that could cause it to be inaccurate. Using somatic cell nuclear transfer to clone endangered species is also really important because it can help sustain a population of animals that might not be around in 10 or 15 years. Finally cloning humans through somatic cell nuclear transfer is also an option, although it may be a distant one. By cloning humans you could bring back a loved relative that may have passed or even someone who you have always wanted to meet.

**__ Future Uses: __** Future uses of somatic cell nuclear transfer through the Genetics Cloning Company include, bringing back several endangered species, and cloning deceased pets. Genetics Cloning Inc. is honored to announce their partnership with the Central Park Zoo to help them bring back several of their endangered species that are housed in their facilities. In doing so, we will not only be helping the zoo, but also the animals. Genetics Cloning Inc. is also looking to the future in expanding their pet cloning industry in offering the cloning of any pet. Finally as the company looks to the future we are not only hoping to help endangered species but also ones that are extinct and can be brought back to life.

**__ References: __** 1. "Animal and Veterinary Cloning." // U.S. //// Department of Health and Human Services //. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d. Web. 21 Jan 2012. <[] >.

2. "Dolly The Sheep." // Roslin //. The University of Edinburgh, n.d. Web. 22 Jan 2012. .

3. Batra, Karen. "Process of Cloning." // Clone Safety //. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Jan 2012. .