Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) is a laboratory technique used to create a cloned embryo. It involves removing the chromosomes (nucleus) from an unfertilized egg cell (oocyte) and replacing them with a donor nucleus extracted from a somatic (body) cell of the animal to be cloned.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze how sex determination works in SCNT:
The offspring produced via SCNT is a genetic replica of the animal that donated the somatic cell nucleus.
Because the somatic cell contains a complete diploid set of chromosomes, the clone receives the exact genetic material—including the sex chromosomes (either XX or XY)—of the donor animal.
Therefore:
- If the somatic cell donor is male (XY), the cloned offspring will always be male.
- If the somatic cell donor is female (XX), the cloned offspring will always be female.
Let us evaluate the incorrect options:
-Option (A): Since we choose the donor, the sex is predetermined by the donor's sex, making equal ratios incorrect.
-Option (C): Dolly was female because her nuclear donor (mammary gland cells) was a female sheep. SCNT can produce male clones if a male donor cell is used.
-Option (D): Sex determination is strictly genetic, determined by the sex chromosomes in the donor nucleus, and cannot be altered by culture medium additives.
Thus, the sex of the cloned offspring depends entirely on the sex of the somatic cell donor.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (B).