What is cloning, really?
Cloning is a complex process that lets one exactly copy the genetic, or inherited, traits of an animal (the donor). Livestock species that scientists have successfully cloned are cattle, pig, sheep, and goats. Scientists have also cloned mice, rats, rabbits, cats, mules, horses, and one dog. Chickens and other poultry have not been cloned. Most people think of livestock breeding taking place through traditional mating, in which males and females physically get together to reproduce. In fact, this type of mating is not often the case. Traditional mating is not that efficient, if the goal is to produce as many offspring as possible. For example, a male has enough sperm to produce many more offspring than would be possible by traditional mating. Traditional mating also has certain risks: one or both of the animals may be injured in the proc-ess of mating. The female may be hurt by the male because he is often so much larger, or an unwilling female may injure the male. There is also a risk
