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Lesson 2

Cloning

Cloning is defined as the duplication of an organism by
gene manipulation. By tinkering with the chromosomes of a plant

or an animal, a carbon copy of that plant or animal is grown.
Cloning is “cutting-edge” science, and it heralds the future of

reproduction. Take the case of the sheep named “Dolly”. First, a

gene was extracted from the embryo of its parent, and from it
scientist constructed a clone sheep; thus Dolly, born in an incubator. Applying cloning

technology to humans would be like babies borne in the laboratory, or in a surrogate mothers
womb, with nary a father or a mother except perhaps a genetic source from Albert Einstein’s

brain matter? Push your imagination further and think of clones derived from the heavies of
history: a clone of Edison or if you are artistically inclined, Mozart. You could repopulate the

Earth with practically anybody, as long as they have left a toenail, a strand of hair or anything
you can get a genetic sample from. Think of the day you would walk on the street and see

that you are walking with the titans. Would this be Utopia realized or Alice’s Wonderland
gone mad? But you don’t need to delve into sci-fi to see how cloning can be used because

nowadays, cloning has found practical application in medicine and surgery. Severely burned

patients could have new skin re-grown. Thanks to cloning. A child born with a body part
missing can have new spare parts. Bald people could have robust hair on their bald spots.

There are numerous applications, and as cloning technology progresses, the possibilities
become endless. But there are always two sides of the coin, a good side and a bad side.

Comprehension

1. What are the practical applications of cloning?
2. What is the thing needed to make a clone?

Questions

1. Talk about cloning, its good and bad side.
2. What is your opinion on cloning?

Vocabulary & Expressions

duplication: the act or process of duplicating
manipulation: to treat or operate with the hands or by mechanical means
utopia: a place of ideal perfection
cutting edge: latest technology
herald: to give notice or to signal the approach
prominent figure: widely and popularly known personalities
application: the act of applying

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