Sejtmagátültetés

Sejtmagátültetés, also known as nuclear transplantation or karyoplasting, is a laboratory technique used in cellular biology and reproductive technologies. It involves the transfer of the nucleus from one somatic cell into an enucleated egg cell. The enucleated egg cell is an ovum that has had its own nucleus removed. This process is a fundamental step in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), a method used for cloning and in research related to stem cell generation.

The procedure typically begins with obtaining a donor somatic cell, such as a skin cell, and an unfertilized egg cell. The nucleus is carefully removed from the egg cell, leaving it without its genetic material. Subsequently, the nucleus from the donor somatic cell is extracted and inserted into the enucleated egg cell. This reconstructed embryo then contains the genetic material of the somatic cell donor.

Following transplantation, the reconstructed egg cell is stimulated, often through electrical pulses or chemical treatments, to begin development as if it had been fertilized. If successful, the cell will divide and form an embryo. In the context of cloning, this embryo can then be implanted into a surrogate mother to develop into a genetically identical individual. In stem cell research, the resulting embryo can be used to derive embryonic stem cells, which have the potential to differentiate into various cell types. Sejtmagátültetés is a complex technique that requires precise manipulation of cells and has significant ethical implications, particularly when applied to human reproduction.