Exact genetic copies of a living organism created through scientific manipulation, or informally, things that are nearly identical copies of something else.
From Greek 'klōn' meaning 'twig' or 'cutting,' because plants propagate from cuttings. The modern scientific use emerged in the 20th century with advances in biology.
Dolly the sheep (cloned in 1996) proved that adult cells could be reprogrammed—but she died young from age-related diseases, suggesting her cells were genetically 'older' than her body, which is why cloning animals for food remains controversial and cloning humans is illegal in most countries.
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