Somatic cell nuclear transfer is a method by which cloned embryos can be produced using differentiated adult cells
- Somatic cells are removed from the adult donor and cultured (these cells are diploid and contain the entire genome)
- An unfertilised egg is removed from a female adult and its haploid nucleus is removed to produce an enucleated egg cell
- The enucleated egg cell is fused with the nucleus from the adult donor to make a diploid egg cell (with the donor’s DNA)
- An electric current is then delivered to stimulate the egg to divide and develop into an embryo
- The embryo is then implanted into the uterus of a surrogate and will develop into a genetic clone of the adult donor