Prenatal screening

Abstract

The present invention concerns products and methods Particularly useful for activating and analyzing non-dividing cell nuclei. The featured products include activating egg extracts, cytostatic factor (CSF) extracts, kits containing these extracts, and a microchamber microscope slide useful in analyzing nucleus activation.

1 . A method of cloning a non-human mammal, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) incubating a permeabilized cell containing a nucleus in a reprogramming extract under conditions that allow the elimination of a factor from said nucleus or the addition of a factor from said reprogramming extract to said nucleus thereby forming a reprogrammed nucleus;    (b) transplanting said reprogrammed nucleus into a nucleated or an enucleated egg; and    (c) allowing said egg to develop into said non-human mammal under direction of genetic information contained in the transplanted activated nucleus.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-human mammal is complete or substantially complete.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mammalian cell is a keratinocyte, erythrocyte, fetal cell, placental cell, red blood cell, white blood cell, or leukocyte.  
     
     
         4 . A method of cloning a non-human mammal, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting a nucleus with a mitotic metaphase extract under conditions to allow reprogramming of said nucleus;    (b) transplanting said nucleus into an egg; and    (c) allowing said egg to develop into said non-human mammal under direction of genetic information contained in the transplanted activated nucleus.    
     
     
         5 . A composition comprising an enhanced mitotic metaphase extract for the reprogramming of somatic cell nuclei, said extract comprising the cytoplasm from a cell prior to S-phase.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein said extract has been supplemented with calcium chloride between 0.1 to 0.4 mM.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein said extract has been supplemented with beta-glycerol phosphate.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein said extract has been supplemented with an ATP generating system comprising ATP, creatine kinase, and creatine phosphate.