Clones are organisms that are genetically identical to each other. For example, they are identical twins, which develop from a common egg. A synonym for the word "clone" is a double. A child cannot be considered a clone of its parents. He receives two sets of genes, one from his father and one from his mother. Bacteria and some plant species reproduce by natural cloning.
Animal cloning
Dolly the Sheep is the first artificially cloned animal. Scientists used genetic material from the cells of the udder of the experimental sheep. He was transplanted into the “purified” egg of another female. Thus, she received a double set of genes without fertilization. The third animal became the clone's surrogate mother. More than 10 animal species have been cloned since Dolly. In 2018, Chinese scientists cloned a primate for the first time. Animal cloning can solve the problem of breeding breeds with certain qualities. During natural reproduction, a certain number of individuals are culled.
What is a clone?
The development of genetic engineering in the future will cure many diseases. The first child of "three parents" was born in Mexico. Scientists have removed from the egg the genes that causehereditary disease, and replaced them with he althy ones. Thus, one he althy egg was obtained from two eggs. Experts say that this process is not much different from donation. A born child has a set of genes only from its parents. However, he did not inherit the disease and will not pass it on to his future children.
The next step should be human cloning. But in most countries, this procedure is prohibited by law for ethical reasons. Many religious organizations oppose the use of human embryos for stem cell production. Modern technology does not allow cloning of organs from ordinary cells.
