Cloning | Gene Therapy and Genetic Engineering | Genetically Modified Foods | Other Fun Stuff | Stem Cells
CloningJan 11, 2007: I've seen a few movies where dinosaurs are cloned using "state-of-the-art" techniques. Are any of these scenarios possible? Are they biologically realistic? May 19, 2006: I don't think we will ever need to clone humans because we will have "body 2.0" and organs such as the heart will not be needed, because the blood will use nanotechnology to pump itself through the body. Do you think that body 2.0 will prevail over cloning? Why or why not? Oct 24, 2005: If one day we can clone cats or dogs, what will happen to their personality, or their soul? Is it possible to clone a personality? Oct 11, 2005: I just lost my cat. So, I intend to clone him, one day. So for now I've kept it in the freezer. Thing is, the shock, deciding whether I should bury him or clone him etc took me one and a half hours. So my question is, is there major degradation of the DNA within that time? Jul 06, 2005: Can you use genes from your hair to clone yourself and if so, how? Mar 08, 2005: I am a 53 year old woman who underwent removal of her uterus after two operations for uterine fibroids. I insisted on keeping my ovaries, however, to prevent premature menopause. By now I assume that my eggs are greatly deteriorated and heroic attempts to fertilize them would likely result in an unhealthy fetus. However, is there a way to retrieve healthy DNA from other cells in my body, implant my DNA in the nucleus of a donor egg whose own DNA has been removed, fertilize my egg(s)with my husband's sperm, implant the egg(s)in a donor womb, and obtain a healthy fetus that is genetically like my husband and me? Nov 17, 2004: Hi! I am doing a science fair project on DNA. I found an article stating that 20 babies were born genetically altered (BBC news). I showed my teacher the article and she has doubts whether the article is actually true. So my question is, is there really 20 babies born genetically altered in the U.S? Oct 05, 2004: How is it that DNA can be extracted and read from long past fossils? Doesn't the drying and age affect the DNA? If we can clone a sheep from its DNA, why not a dinosaur? Gene Therapy and Genetic EngineeringApr 03, 2008: Can cancer be cured with gene therapy? Apr 05, 2007: I am a comic book fanatic. So I was wondering what it would take to develop a "super power". Is it possible to develop one using genetic engineering? Sep 02, 2005: Is it possible to use genetic engineering to create a designer baby?
I've seen news articles with phrases like, soon, parents could order up a blue-eyed, blonde-haired girl who's good at tennis. Is it technically possible to alter a human embryo to produce a desired trait, such as blue eyes, if neither parent carries genes for blue eyes? Or, for example, if both parents are carriers of cystic fibrosis, and all of their embryos were
found to have or carry CF, could the CF gene be fixed in the embryo? May 10, 2005: What a great mutation the delta32 mutation sounds like. No side effects and it makes you resistant to HIV? Is there some way to give everyone this mutation? Is there anywhere to get tested for it?
Maybe somehow they could utilize early embryonic cells and transform them to incorporate all or part of the mutation in each sequential cell line from then on. Or how about using an engineered smallpox or similar virus as a vector to infect these embryonic cells?
Apr 12, 2005: I read a previous question regarding straightening curly hair genetically. My hair is wavy which means I have both curly and straight hair genes. Given that I have both the gene for straight hair and the gene for curly hair, is it possible to just switch off the curly hair gene? Sep 24, 2004: I am an African American with typical black hair. I'm really fed up with it, and I was wondering if through gene therapy I could begin to grow hair like that of a Caucasian/Mexican/Asian person. I don't know anything about gene therapy, but I'm really desperate and I didn't know whom to ask. Thank you. Sep 09, 2004: Are there any genetic engineering studies being done to stimulate hair coloring in adults who are grey? Genetically Modified FoodsNov 05, 2009: Can I buy (GM) golden rice? I have looked for it and have not been able to find it. Aug 27, 2008: When will broccoli be modified to taste like chocolate, have the antioxidants of cranberries, and be available at my grocery store? Apr 10, 2008: What kind of GMOs are currently on the American market? And what are they spliced from? Feb 23, 2007: I want to know how much more dangerous is cloned food than the current genetically modified food? I'm scared of eating it. Apr 28, 2004: I just bought some organic food and the label said it was free of genetically modified ingredients. What does that mean? Do non-organic foods have genetically modified ingredients? Should I be scared? Other Fun StuffNov 20, 2008: Could Ebola and cold viruses combine to make some sort of supervirus? Jun 19, 2008: How could you make a lab designed gene? Is it possible? Mar 29, 2005: Can human DNA be "spliced"with animal DNA while in the womb creating a literal chimera, like a half man, half beast? If this is possible do you think it will ever become as common in the general public as tatoos? Dec 02, 2004: Hello- I have a 1 year old son. I would love to have a daughter next. Is there anything that you know of that I can do to push the odds of having a girl??? May 27, 2004: I read someplace that scientists made a mouse with two moms and no dad. Does this mean that two women can have children now? May 18, 2004: I saw some DNA beauty products on sale at different department stores. Are they effective? Should they really cost so much? Please advise. Stem CellsOct 02, 2008: I heard recently that they created stem cells from other somatic cells of the body. How is this possible? Sep 25, 2008: Can stem cells help one with liver cancer? Sep 11, 2008: What is cord blood and what diseases does it cure currently? Can it be used to treat siblings and parents diseases? Is it really as helpful as the collection agencies make them sound? Is it worth the investment? Mar 02, 2007: How can stem cell research benefit people suffering from multiple sclerosis? Nov 10, 2006: Is there a possibility of using stem cells from a relative's umbilical cord to use for spinal cord cell cure treatment? I saved my niece's umbilical cord last year hoping there would be a day to use for a cure for my spinal cord injury or if my niece ever has a use for it. Feb 24, 2006: What is the future of stem cell research? Dec 06, 2005: How do you figure out the types of stem cells and how do you make them into different body cells?
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