Answer to Question #71997 in Molecular Biology for Jonas Grath

Question

What is happening during somatic cell nuclear transfer on a molecular level?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

During somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) the nucleus, containinng the organism's DNA, of a somatic cell is removed and the rest of the cell discarded. In parallel, the nucleus of an egg cell is removed. Then it is inserted into the enucleated egg cell and reprogrammed by the host cell. The egg, now containing the nucleus of a somatic cell, is stimulated with a shock and will begin to divide.