Final answer:
Cloning is the process of creating an exact genetic replica of a cell, tissue, or organism. With advances in biotechnology, cloning practices like reproductive cloning make it possible to replicate multicellular organisms. Molecular cloning is used to copy specific DNA fragments for medical and agricultural purposes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cloning describes the processes used to create an exact genetic replica of another cell, tissue, or organism. The clone's DNA is exactly the same as that of the parent's DNA. While bacteria, and other unicellular organisms clone themselves through asexual reproduction processes like binary fission, cloning in animals does not occur naturally.
In 1997, the cloning of a sheep named Dolly marked a milestone as she was the first large mammal to be successfully cloned. This breakthrough demonstrated that reproductive cloning of multicellular organisms in a laboratory is possible, albeit previously, most multicellular organisms reproduced sexually, mixing the DNA of two parents.
Another significant aspect of cloning in biology is molecular cloning, which is the replication of specific regions or fragments of the genome. This technology has been critical in advancements of medicine, such as the production of synthetic insulin.