Difference Between Twins and Clones
When a mother naturally gives birth to two offspring at the same time, they are called twins. Twins can be of two types; identical and non-identical. Identical twins have the same genetic makeup which makes them look exactly the same. This happens when one zygote splits into two different embryos. However, the case with non-identical twins is different – here, two ova are fertilized by different sperms.
Cloning, on the other hand, is only possible with the help of modern advancements in bioengineering – there is nothing natural about the process of cloning. Here, the clone is artificially prepared in a Petri plate, instead of being created inside a womb. In this process, the engineered embryo is manually split, and then later implanted in a womb.
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Twins
Twins are born naturally without any external help or mutation; they are created when the ovum is fertilised by the sperm, with the zygote splitting and forming two embryos, or when two ova are fertilised by different sperms. The twins who develop from the same zygote are remarkably identical to each other, while the twins who come into existence after the two ova are fertilised are non-identical. Identical twins are of the same sex, while non-identical twins can be of different sexes.
Identical twins are linked to each other and have a special bond with one another, on a mental, emotional, and spiritual level. On the other hand, non-identical twins have a faint or non-existent bond with each other. Families who have a history of twins are more likely than others to experience the recurring births of twins.
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Clones
The process of producing a living being with the exact genetic copy of another is called cloning. While identical twins can be regarded as natural clones, artificially created clones are prepared in a Petri dish. The embryo which is produced in a lab is then implanted in the womb of a surrogate mother, where this embryo grows and is later delivered.
Human cloning has been banned in the United States of America (USA) because of its contested ethical status. Religious groups are the biggest opponents of this technique and believe that human cloning should never be permitted anywhere in the world. However, scientists insist that by honing the process of cloning, they will be able to develop perfect specimens of human beings. In addition, they will be able to prepare human body parts which can be used as implants for patients who, due to some illness, had to get certain body parts or organs removed. However, cloning is still far from being considered acceptable, as it has many fierce critics.
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