Let me share with you a comparison between Cloning and Genetic Engineering.
| Aspect | Cloning | Genetic Engineering |
| Introduction | A process of production of genetically identical copy of an organism. | A process of modification of an organism’s DNA to introduce specific traits. |
| Types | · Reproductive cloning
· Therapeutic cloning |
· Gene cloning
· Genetic modification |
| Techniques | · Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)
· Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) |
· Recombinant DNA technology
· CRISPR |
| Purpose | · Replicating organisms with desired traits.
· Creating tissues or cells for medical applications. |
· Introducing new traits or modifying existing ones.
· Improving crop yields · Creating disease-resistant organisms |
| Genetic diversity | · Limited genetic diversity | · Can introduce new genetic material, preserving or enhancing genetic diversity. |
| Ethical concerns | · Questions about the potential for cloning humans. |
· Considerations about environmental impact and biodiversity. |
| Applications | · Production of Dolly the sheep
· Cloning of animals |
· Pest resistance crops
· Production of insulin through genetically modified bacteria. |