MadSci Network: Genetics
Query:

Re: Would your clone speak french if you do?

Date: Tue Mar 7 16:10:42 2000
Posted By: Joshua McElwee, Grad student, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Washington-Seattle
Area of science: Genetics
ID: 951245115.Ge
Message:

  Hi Jade.  

  In answer to your question, we need to figure out what exactly a clone 
actually is.  Basically, a clone is simply another human being that has the 
EXACT same DNA as another person.  So, in reality, there are lots of clones 
actually walking around in the world today.  Every set of identical twins 
are actually clones.  Identical twins happen when a fertilized egg in the 
mother splits before it starts to develop.  This means that identical twins 
actually have the exact same DNA as each other.  
   Maybe you've met some identical twins before.  If so, you probably know 
that they look almost alike except for things like clothes and hair and 
whatnot.  (This is why they were first called identical twins.)  However, 
you probably also know that they are not alike in many ways.  They have 
different personalities, they have different types of things that they are 
each good at, and they've learned different things in their lives.  So, 
while they may look alike, identical twins (clones), certainly don't share 
things like experiences, memories, or languages.
   The same thing would hold true for any clone that were made from somebody 
that spoke french.  Being a clone just means that you have the same DNA.  
DNA does NOT determine what memories you have, or what things you may have 
learned.  If this were true, then we would be born knowning everything that 
both of our parents know.  (And we all know that doesn't happen.)  So, while 
a clone may look like you, and have some of your basic mental abilities, 
they would still need to learn everything in life just the same way as 
anyone else in this world does.  

-Josh 



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