Clonic flies

2004/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Genetika

For the first time they have cloned flies. Despite previous attempts, finally some Canadian researchers have managed to clone the vinegar flies. According to them, experimenting with flies is easier and cheaper than researching mammals, and understanding the process of cloning flies will help overcome mammal problems.

The biggest problems arise in the reprogramming of the DNA in which it is inserted. Reprogramming is necessary for the good development of the embryo that is generated, but it is a very complex process and with many errors. Therefore, they want to know which genes are important in the reprogramming process, and that is easy to investigate in fly cloning. It is believed that the advances made will later serve mammals.

However, the technique used to clone vinegar flies is not the same as that used in mammals. In fact, instead of starting DNA from adult cells, they have introduced embryonic DNA into the eggs of the fecund flies. In addition, 800 other sessions were held before the success. If this were not enough, several researchers doubt that the steps taken in vinegar flies are useful in mammals.