SCIENCE: Cloning Humans is Super Hard

We can clone dogs but not dudes? What gives?

Post by Jesse B. Gill

Ha. It was pretty easy for us to clone Andy Riesmeyer on camera but in real life? Not so much, apparently.

We had some fun last week making the first in a series of videos we’re making a part of a partnership with Science 2.0 called “Science of Sci-Fi,” where we take a look at the real-life science behind some of the awesome/crazy stuff we see in our favorite science fiction.

And for our first outing? You guessed it...cloning.

There’s tons of great sci-fi out there involving clones and/or cloning. Orphan Black is probably the coolest and most popular cloning fiction out there right now. Duncan Jones’ Moon was one of the best films of 2009 and one of the most underrated hard sci-fi films ever and it speaks to some of the ethical issues we might be faced with when human cloning is finally possible.

Also...and correct me if I’m wrong about this...but wasn’t there a Star Wars movie about clones or something? I dunno…

Anyway, science lecturer Joanne Manaster joined us to fill us in on why science can clone sheep and dogs but not humans. You can check that video out below:

Here’s the deal: if you have more questions about cloning, you should pop on over to Science 2.0 and check out the heady articles they have on the ins and outs of actually cloning living beings.

Is it ok to eat clones fruit? Science 2.0’s GOT YOU.

Will the United Nations ban human cloning? Science 2.0’s GOT YOU.

How soon could we actually see human clones? Science 2.0’s...well, you get the idea.

So what do you think of cloning? Is it an exciting new frontier for science or is it just amounting to us humans playing God? Also...what’s your favorite clone-related fiction? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @DweebCast!

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ora Media, LLC, its affiliates, or its employees.

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