is there actually a difference between therapeutic and reproductive cloning?

Question

some websites are telling me there is a difference, and some are telling me there isnt. im so confused!
http://www.isscr.org/public/faq.htm#13a
http://www.cogforlife.org/cloningfact.htm

Answer 1

Therapeutic cloning clones cells and uses them to help existing beings.

Reproductive cloning clones whole indivuduals and uses them for vanity's sake.

Morally, these are night and day. Scientifically, they start out the same way but become different processes after the first step.

It's the same as if you make bread or cake; in both cases you start out with flour and water, it's just how you use the ingredients that is different.

Answer 2

In genetics and developmental biology, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a technique for cloning. It can be used in embryonic stem cell research, in which the process is often called "research cloning" or "therapeutic cloning." It can also be used in reproductive cloning.



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Reproductive cloning is a form of artificial reproduction technique based on cloning.

In reproductive cloning, the cloned embryo is implanted in a woman's uterus. This should develop into a normal baby, its only distinction being that it would be almost genetically identical to the DNA donor. The actual cloning of the embryo involves a process called Somatic cell nuclear transfer, in which the polar body is removed from an oocyte, and its genetic information is replaced with the genetic information from a different (diploid) cell. A micropipette is used to hold the oocyte steady while a microsyringe, or needle, is used to 'drill' through the zona pellucida (the protective layer around the oocyte) and to remove the polar body and the genetic information. Then, the genetic information from a diploid cell is removed in a similar process and then inserted into the oocyte. This cell then undergoes a series of chemical reactions, sometimes involving an electrical shock, to stimulate growth and DNA replication. This process is still very quixotic and yields a healthy embryo a very small percent of the time.

Answer 3

I hav viewed both the articles which u hav mentioned. U see, Bassically, both the therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning are the same, since the basic principle underlying both of them is same. The difference lies in the use of the technologies. Where on one hand, repro. cloning is used to raise whole babies out of the stemcells (eg. Dolly, the sheep), therapeutic cloning involves cloning of stemcells to obtin cell lines which could be used clinically.