Kloonaamisen

Kloonaamisen, or cloning, refers to the process of producing genetically identical copies of a cell, organism, or DNA sequence. In Finnish usage, kloonaaminen covers both molecular cloning, which copies DNA fragments, and organismal cloning, which aims to create a whole organism that is genetically indistinguishable from another.

Molecular cloning involves creating copies of a specific DNA fragment and is a foundational method in modern biology. It typically uses vectors such as plasmids, host cells like bacteria, and enzymes to insert, propagate, and study a gene or DNA sequence. Molecular cloning enables gene characterization, protein production, and the development of biotechnologies and medicines.

Organismal cloning refers to producing an entire organism that is genetically identical to an original. This category includes reproductive cloning, where a new animal is created to be a genetic duplicate of a donor, and therapeutic cloning, which uses cells derived from cloned embryos for research and potential medical treatments. The most famous early example is Dolly the sheep (1996), created through somatic cell nuclear transfer. Since then, other mammals have been cloned, though the process remains technically challenging and ethically debated.

Ethical, legal, and social considerations are central to kloonaamisen discourse. Debates focus on animal welfare, potential human cloning, consent, identity, and the broader implications for biodiversity and society. Many countries regulate or prohibit reproductive human cloning while permitting certain research activities under strict oversight.

Limitations include technical inefficiency, mosaicism, and health issues in some clones. While kloonaamisen offers scientific and practical opportunities in medicine, agriculture, and conservation, it remains a field with complex philosophical and regulatory dimensions.