Dolly the Sheep to Human Futures: The Science and Ethics of Cloning

provides an extensive overview of cloning, focusing heavily on the scientific and ethical implications stemming from the birth of Dolly the Sheep in 1996. It details the core mechanism of modern cloning, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), and discusses how this technique demonstrated the biological reprogramming of adult cells. Furthermore, the text addresses and refutes common misconceptions about cloning, such as the myth of premature aging and the belief that a clone is an exact, non-unique copy of its genetic donor. Finally, the source outlines the practical applications of cloning in agriculture and conservation, distinguishing sharply between ethically controversial reproductive cloning (creating a whole organism) and the promising field of therapeutic cloning for personalized regenerative medicine.