Would human clones have identical fingerprints?

Brainy Blonde

Although I personally find human cloning to be a very complexed subject, both scientifically and ethically, after reading information about it, I would have to say the answer is yes. See: www.sciam.com/1998/1298issue/1298wilmut.html Aug 31 01, 9:17 PM

crackers

If identical twins are formed from the same cells and same DNA they still have unique fingerprints to each other. Aren't clones developed the same way or am I just a bit naive when it comes to trying to figure out anything about cloning - both ethical and otherwise. Sep 01 01, 2:56 AM

Brainy Blonde

Well Crackers, that's what I was kind of thinking when I first read the question. Since I found the question very interesting and unigue to say the least. I decided I should read more about the subject before saying anything. I know as much about cloning as 'Dolly'! As for human cloning, even less. Even after reading several things, I am still quite foggy on the whole thing. As I said, way to complex for this brainy blonde. They describe the process of cloning at the site I mentioned, most of which went straight over my head, but there were a couple of things that I did understand, I think. That must be an oxymoron! I can't explain it all here, you would have to go to the site, but in reading the process of cloning, with my very limited knowledge, I was able to see how cloning and a fertilized egg that divides into cells, that then divides into seperate zygotes differs. In cloning, they manipulate the RNA that affects the DNA to get an exact copy. Even identical twins are not identical at the cellular level, but a clone is. That's what I got from what I read anyway. I could be completely wrong. I would like other people to read what I did and see if they come to the same conclusions. It could prove to be very interesting I think. Sep 01 01, 3:44 PM

Gnomon

A clone is not an exact duplicate. It is just a person manufactured with the same DNA. Identical twins are clones, but they are not normally called this. To answer this question, find out whether identical (monozygotic) twins have identical fingerprints. Sep 02 01, 2:52 PM

l3i7l

My cousins are identical twins (natural clones). Their fingerprints are very distinct from each other. Also, when they smile, as for a photo, their eyes take on slightly different shapes. When we were younger, the only way I could tell who was who was to get them to laugh or smile. I have also read an article about using a scan of the iris of the eye as a means of identification. The system was tested with sets of identical twins, and could differentiate between them every time. I think to have absolutely identical clones, the growth process would have to be totally controlled, beyond the means currently used. Sep 02 01, 6:35 PM