What does cloning mean?
Cloning refers to the process of creating a genetically identical copy of a biological entity — whether a gene, a cell, or an entire organism — and, by extension, of making an exact duplicate of a man-made object such as a program or design. The term entered mainstream awareness in 1996 with the birth of Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, which transformed it from a specialist laboratory concept into a household word. In modern usage it appears chiefly in scientific contexts such as reproductive cloning, which aims to produce whole organisms, and therapeutic cloning, which generates embryonic stem cells for medical research. Because of its association with duplicating life itself, the word carries strong ethical and emotional weight whenever human application is discussed, while in everyday speech it can be used lightly to describe anything that imitates an original too faithfully. Its blend of technical precision and cultural resonance makes it one of the most recognizable terms in contemporary science.
nounThe process of producing an exact genetic replica of a cell, organism, or DNA sequence, or more generally the act of making an identical copy of something.
- The production of genetically identical copies of an organism, cell, or DNA segment through biotechnology.
- The informal act of creating an identical copy or imitation of a non-biological thing, such as software or a design.
"The sheep Dolly remains the most famous product of animal cloning."
"Scientists used somatic cell nuclear transfer to achieve the cloning of the sheep Dolly in 1996."
"Critics argued the new app was merely a cloning of a popular competitor's design."
Rarely pluralized; the uncountable singular is standard even when referring to multiple instances.
"Multiple clonings of the target gene were performed to confirm the results."
When Dolly the sheep was cloned in 1996, she was named after Dolly Parton — because her DNA came from a mammary gland cell.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cloning
Cloning derives from the verb 'to clone', which was coined in the early 20th century from the Greek word 'klōn', meaning a twig or slip used for propagation. The botanical metaphor is apt: gardeners had long propagated plants by taking cuttings that grew into genetically identical copies, and early 20th-century biologists adopted 'clone' to describe asexual reproduction that produced identical organisms. The gerund form 'cloning' followed naturally as the practice expanded into laboratory science, gaining worldwide prominence after the cloning of Dolly the sheep in 1996.
Related word forms
How cloning is actually used
Cloning is primarily a scientific and technical term used in biology and genetics, but it extends informally to any exact copying of products, designs, or media. It carries ethical connotations when applied to human reproduction, so it often appears in bioethics debates.
Easily confused with cloning
Cloning means producing genetic copies, whereas clonic describes a type of muscle spasm involving alternate contraction and relaxation.