Cloning is the process of creating an identical copy of
something. In biology, it collectively refers to processes used
to create copies of DNA fragments (molecular cloning), cells
(cell cloning), or organisms. The term also encompasses
situations whereby organisms reproduce asexually. The term clone
is derived from κλών, the Greek word for "twig, branch",
referring to the process whereby a new plant can be created from
a twig. In horticulture, the spelling clon was used until the
twentieth century; the final e came into use to indicate the
vowel is a "long o" instead of a "short o". Since the term
entered the popular lexicon in a more general context, the
spelling clone has been used exclusively. Molecular cloning
refers to the procedure of isolating a defined DNA sequence and
obtaining multiple copies of it in vivo. Cloning is frequently
employed to amplify DNA fragments containing genes, but it can
be used to amplify any DNA sequence such as promoters, non-
coding sequences and randomly fragmented DNA. It i