The article explains that cloning is not as perfect as when looking at it from a genetics point of view. Cloning is a technique used to make copies of living things, including genes, cells, tissues, and even whole animals. Scientists studied mice that were repeatedly cloned over many generations to understand what happens to their DNA over time. At the beginning, the cloned mice were normal and healthy, which suggested that cloning was working well. However, after many generations, the researchers started to notice serious genetic changes.
The main finding was that genetic mutations slowly built up in the cloned mice. Each time a mouse was cloned, its DNA was copied, but small errors, which could be called mutations, happened during this process. As mentioned, when cloning uses the same DNA repeatedly, these mutations were passed down and accumulated over generations. Additionally, because cloning does not have the advantage like natural reproduction, where genetic material from two parents can help reduce harmful mutations. As a result, the cloned mice ended up with about three times more mutations than normal mice, some could not survive long after birth by later generations.
This study highlights that DNA is not copied perfectly every time, and without genetic variation, mutations can possibly build up and cause serious problems. It also underlines why natural reproduction is important for maintaining healthy populations compared to the cloning technique. The research suggests that while cloning may work in the short term, there are still biological limitations and may not be a reliable long-term solution for the efforts in conserving as well as preventing extinction of species.
Source:
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/mouse-study-shows-repeated-cloning-causes-grave-genetic-mutations-2026-03-24/
Additional Source:
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3184261/japan-scientists-clone-freeze-dried-mice-bid-beat-extinction
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