Cloning of animals

Cloning animals means creating animals by using the genetic material from a cell from another animal. It is a form of asexual reproduction performed in a laboratory. The closest natural analogy to a clone is identical twins. As identical twins, clones and cell donor animals share exactly the same genetic information (DNA). Cloning does not involve any genetic modification. In fact, the clone is a near exact genetic copy of the donor animal. Currently, cloning is used for research purposes in the EU.

When speaking of cloning of animals some concerns emerge: ethical principles, the conditions such that animals’ health and welfare are guaranteed, the respect of the genetic diversity and the negative perception that EU citizens have of the cloning technique used for food production. This EPRS keysource aims at showing publications on these concerns, views of the new proposals for directives and analysis on cloned animals.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Cloning http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-cloning/

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