Section 1

Once upon a time in China, scientists made a big discovery! They cloned a monkey named ReTro. Cloning means making an exact copy of an animal. ReTro is a rhesus monkey, which is a kind of monkey.

The scientists used a special technique to clone ReTro. This technique was also used to make Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal. They made 113 cloned embryos, but only 11 were put into other monkeys. And out of those 11, only ReTro survived. ReTro was born after 157 days of being inside his mom.

The scientists say that even though the success rate of cloning monkeys is very low, less than 1% in this case, it helps us learn more about cloning. They want to know how to make more healthy clones in the future.

This is not the first time these scientists have cloned monkeys. Six years ago, they cloned two monkeys called long-tailed macaques. Those monkeys were identical twins. The scientists hope that by cloning monkeys, they can understand more about human diseases and find better ways to help people.

Some people worry that this kind of cloning could lead to human cloning, but the scientists say that's not true. They say it's very difficult to clone monkeys, so it would be even harder to clone humans. They also say that human cloning is not necessary and would not be fair.

Cloning animals is still not very efficient. Sometimes the clones don't survive or they die soon after being born. To help with this problem, the scientists found a new method. This method connects the clone with a healthy placenta, which is important for growing babies.

The scientists wrote about their discovery in a special science journal. They said their work gives us important information about cloning monkeys and could help us in the future.

Even though this research is interesting, it also makes people think about how we use animals in science. In Europe, they have rules about experimenting on animals. They only allow it if it's for a very serious disease that affects humans or the animals themselves. This experiment did not meet those rules.

So, in conclusion, ReTro the cloned monkey has taught us a lot about science. Cloning is not easy, but it helps us learn more about how animals grow and develop. And while this research raises some ethical questions, it also brings us closer to finding cures for diseases and helping people.

  1. Why is ReTro the monkey special?
  2. What is cloning?
  3. Why do scientists clone monkeys?
  4. Why do some people worry about cloning?
  5. What did the scientists do to make cloning more successful?

Section 2

Hi, my name is Aoife and I am 8 years old. I live in a small village in Ireland called Ballinacura. Today, I want to tell you about an average day in my life. But first, let me tell you a bit about cloning and the scientific process.

Cloning is when scientists create an exact copy of a living thing. They use a special process called DNA cloning to make identical copies of plants, animals, or even humans! It's like making a twin, but in a lab. The scientific process involves asking questions, making observations, conducting experiments, and drawing conclusions.

Now, let's get back to my day. In the morning, I wake up and have breakfast with my family. Then, I go to school where my friends and I learn about different subjects. Today, we had a science class about plants. We learned how plants grow from seeds and how they make food using sunlight.

  1. What is cloning?
  2. What is the scientific process?
  3. What did Aoife learn about in her science class?
  4. How do plants make food?
  5. Where does Aoife live?

Section 3

Good evening, young scientists! Welcome to the Science News Channel. Today, we have an exciting report on cloning and the scientific process. Cloning is a fascinating technique in which scientists create an exact copy of an organism. This process involves several steps. First, scientists extract the DNA from the original organism. Then, they place it in an empty egg cell. This cell is then stimulated to divide and grow into a new organism that is genetically identical to the original. Cloning has many potential benefits, such as helping endangered species and producing medicines. However, it also raises ethical questions. Some people worry about the impact on biodiversity and the potential misuse of this technology. Remember, young scientists, the scientific process is about exploring, questioning, and learning. Cloning is just one example of how scientists use their knowledge to push the boundaries of what we understand about the world around us.

  1. What is cloning?
  2. What are the steps involved in cloning?
  3. What are some potential benefits of cloning?
  4. What are the ethical concerns surrounding cloning?
  5. What is the scientific process about?

Section 4

One of the most notable events associated with cloning and the scientific process happened in Ireland. In 2009, researchers at the University College Dublin successfully cloned a cow named Daisy. This groundbreaking achievement marked the first time a cloned cow had been born in Ireland.

The scientific process behind this cloning involved a series of complex steps. The researchers began by taking a somatic cell from a donor cow and extracting its nucleus. They then took an unfertilized egg cell from another cow and removed its nucleus. The nucleus from the somatic cell was inserted into the egg cell, which was then stimulated to develop into an embryo. The embryo was implanted into a surrogate cow, and after a gestation period, Daisy, the cloned cow, was born.

  1. What happened in Ireland in 2009?
  2. What was the significance of this event?
  3. What were the steps involved in the scientific process of cloning Daisy?
  4. How did the researchers create the cloned embryo?
  5. What was the name of the cloned cow and how was it born?