What is cloning?

• A. Creating identical animals
• B. Selective breeding
• C. Cross-pollination
• D. Hybrid vigor

Answer: (A)

Cloning is making a genetic copy of an animal. It aims to produce another individual with nearly identical DNA to a specific donor, often using techniques like somatic cell nuclear transfer. While the clone shares the same genetic makeup, environmental factors and epigenetic changes can still lead to differences in appearance or behavior.

This differs from selective breeding, which combines genes from two parents and changes traits over generations rather than copying one genome exactly. Cross-pollination refers to a plant reproduction process that mixes pollen from different plants, not creating a single genetic duplicate. Hybrid vigor, or heterosis, describes the improved performance seen when different breeds or lines are crossed, not cloning.