What is the application of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Technology?

The correct answer is C) Reproductive cloning of animals. In Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), the nucleus of a body (somatic) cell is inserted into an enucleated egg cell. The reconstructed egg is then implanted into a surrogate female, and the resulting offspring is a genetic copy of the donor. Dolly the sheep, produced at the Roslin Institute in 1996 by Ian Wilmut's team, is the classic example.

• A) Biolarvicides: Bacterial biolarvicides such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis are produced by fermentation of microbes. SCNT has no role here.
• B) Biodegradable plastics: Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are made by microbial fermentation, sometimes using genetically engineered bacteria. This is a microbial process, not nuclear transfer.
• D) Disease-free organisms: Disease-free plants and animals are produced through meristem culture, tissue culture, embryo transfer or screening. SCNT does not produce disease-free organisms; cloning copies the donor's genome, including any disease-linked genes.

The core concept is animal cloning as an application of nuclear reprogramming. For Mains GS-III, link it to biotechnology applications and the ethical debate on cloning, including the difference between reproductive and therapeutic cloning. India does not have a separate cloning statute, and the regulation of stem cell and embryo research falls under ICMR guidelines.

Trap: Students confuse SCNT with recombinant DNA technology or assume any advanced biotech tool yields disease-free organisms.