The northern white rhinoceros is on the verge of extinction, with only two surviving females. Conservationists are using somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning) to rescue the species.
The protocol below outlines this cloning procedure. Complete the passage by writing the correct biological term in each blank.
First, a nucleus is harvested from a somatic 1. ________________ of a preserved male northern white rhinoceros.
This nucleus is then microinjected into an enucleated 2. ________________ obtained from a southern white rhinoceros donor.
An electrical pulse is applied to fuse the membranes and trigger division by a process called 3. ________________.
The resulting dividing structure eventually forms an early-stage 4. ________________.
This is then transferred into the 5. ________________ of a healthy female southern white rhinoceros.
In this reproductive role, the female southern white rhinoceros serves as a 6. ________________ mother to carry the pregnancy to term.
