cloner

Cloner is a term used for a person, device, or system capable of producing genetically identical copies of another organism, cell, or biological material. In biology, cloning refers to creating an identical copy of a biological entity.

Reproductive cloning aims to produce a new individual with the same genetic material as the donor, often using somatic cell nuclear transfer to combine a donor nucleus with an enucleated egg cell, followed by embryo implantation. Another approach is embryo splitting, in which an early embryo is divided to form two or more genetically identical offspring. Therapeutic cloning seeks to create embryonic stem cells that are genetically matched to a patient for research or medical treatment, without producing a full clone.

Natural cloning occurs in many organisms, including plants that propagate vegetatively and certain animals that can reproduce asexually. In laboratory settings, cloning technologies underpin advances in developmental biology, regenerative medicine, and agriculture, enabling the propagation of desirable traits or the study of gene function. However, cloning raises ethical, legal, and social concerns, including animal welfare, the status and rights of cloned organisms, potential medical risks, and concerns about genetic diversity and consent.

Notable milestones include the birth of Dolly the sheep in 1996, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, which intensified debate about the feasibility and ethics of cloning. Since then, cloning research has progressed in various species, with ongoing discussion about its practical applications and governance.