SCNTderived

SCNT-derived refers to cells, tissues, or organisms produced through somatic cell nuclear transfer, a cloning technique in which the nucleus of a somatic cell is transferred into an enucleated oocyte. The oocyte reprograms the donor nucleus to an embryonic state, enabling the embryo to develop and provide embryonic stem cells or differentiated cell lines for research and potential therapies.

In SCNT, a somatic cell nucleus is inserted into an oocyte from which the original nucleus has been removed. After activation, the embryo can be cultured to the blastocyst stage, from which embryonic stem cells or patient-specific cell lines can be derived. SCNT-derived cells may be used to generate tissues for study, disease modeling, drug testing, or regenerative applications. When the donor nucleus comes from a patient, the resulting cells have the potential for immunological compatibility, a consideration distinguishing SCNT-derived approaches from some other cloning or reprogramming methods such as induced pluripotent stem cells.

History and status: SCNT gained prominence with the cloning of Dolly the sheep in 1996. Since then, NT-ESC lines have been derived in several species, and human SCNT-derived cells have been explored in research settings. However, the technique faces technical hurdles and ethical, legal, and regulatory considerations. Challenges include low reprogramming efficiency, epigenetic abnormalities, imprinting concerns, and potential tumorigenicity. As a result, SCNT-derived cells remain primarily in the research and translational stage, with clinical applications considered experimental and contingent on further development.