Cloning is an umbrella term for processes of duplicating genetic material, whether animal or human. Scientists refer to a clone as a group of two or more cells or organisms with identical genetic information that have been derived from a single cell or organism. Clones result naturally from asexual reproduction in bacteria, plants, and animals, and they are also produced deliberately by a variety of technical strategies.

In media reports and public debates on cloning, the concept usually refers to artificial rather than natural clones, and the term is used mainly to refer to the individual that has been derived by a cloning procedure (rather than the parent). The stereotypical popular clone is a same-age, look-alike copy of a single parent.

Debates on cloning provide an ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles