By JAMIE LANCASTER

THE concept of cloning a human being has been headline news in past months following recent developments in animal cloning.

So, what is cloning? It is the creation of cells or whole animals with identical DNA structure to the single 'parent' the DNA is originally taken from.

This is supposed to mean that clones are exact replicas of another being, yet environment and upbringing may influence changes in personality and appearance. Scientists' reasons for researching in the field are to find possible medical advances.

Cloning has always caused unease. Arguments against it state that it is unnatural, too expensive and the social effects if clones came into existence would be disastrous.

Moreover, scientists in Cambridge have discovered new evidence to suggest the much-debated process damages genetic mechanisms that enable normal growth, resulting in severe problems such as underdeveloped lungs and immune system deficiencies. Several clones of cows in the past have actually had head deformities.

That is, if the clone attempt is successful. Dolly the sheep, the first mammal clone, was the one survival in 247 pregnancies. Although this number has improved through time, the success rate is still little more than one per cent.

Nevertheless, cloning cannot be described as unnatural; identical twins are nature's own version. Also, research is still in its early stages and there is a lot more left to learn.

I personally disagree with genetic copying due to the distress animals endure in the research, and psychological issues I believe would unfold. However, cloning is now taking place across the globe and may be the future for scientific development.