kloonima

Kloonima is a term encountered in speculative biology and science fiction to describe the hypothetical total genetic and epigenetic makeup of a cloned organism. In this usage, kloonima includes the organism’s nuclear genome, mitochondrial genome, and the pattern of epigenetic marks inherited from the donor or established during development. The concept is not part of standard genetics; rather, it serves as a device for exploring cloning fidelity, potential variation among clones, and questions of identity that may arise across lifetimes or generations.

Name and origin: The word appears to be a neologism formed from the word clone and the -ima suffix used in terms such as genome or proteome. There is no formal definition in actual genetics, and kloonima is largely encountered in fictional or speculative discussions rather than peer‑reviewed science.

Applications in fiction and ethics: Writers and ethicists use kloonima to frame debates about whether clones share a single, fixed “identity” or possess multiple possible futures shaped by environment and history. Discussions often examine how much of phenotype can be attributed to kloonima versus postnatal experience, and what rights or protections should apply to cloned individuals.

See also: cloning, genomics, epigenetics. Kloonima is not an established scientific term; its use is primarily in speculative contexts.