What is the method of reproductive cloning that involves transferring genetic material from an adult somatic cell into an unfertilized egg?

The process referred to is Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT). This method involves removing the nucleus from an unfertilized egg and replacing it with the nucleus from an adult somatic cell. This allows the egg to develop into an embryo with the genetic material of the somatic cell donor. The significance of SCNT lies in its potential for creating genetically identical organisms, as seen in the famous example of Dolly the sheep. This cloning technique is fundamental in research for understanding developmental biology and has applications in regenerative medicine, conservation, and the potential for therapeutic cloning.

The other methods listed do not specifically involve the transfer of genetic material from a somatic cell to an egg: gene editing focuses on altering specific genes within a genome, assisted reproductive technology encompasses a range of techniques to help couples conceive but does not involve cloning, and in vitro fertilization is the process of combining eggs and sperm outside the body to create embryos, which is distinctly different from the cloning method described.