clone
clone
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling:
/kloʊn/
clone: /kloʊn/
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant
/oʊ/ - voiced diphthong (as in "go")
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: clone
Plural Noun: clones
Verb (base form): clone
Verb (third person singular present): clones
Verb (present participle/gerund): cloning
Verb (past tense/past participle): cloned
Adjective: clonal (derived from "clone," often used in a scientific context)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: An organism or cell, or a group of organisms or cells, produced asexually from one ancestor or stock, to which they are genetically identical.
Synonyms: duplicate, copy, replica, double, twin
Antonyms: original, progenitor, ancestor
Definition 2: An exact copy or reproduction of something, often a product or system, that is virtually indistinguishable from the original in appearance or function.
Synonyms: imitation, facsimile, carbon copy, simulacrum
Antonyms: prototype, original, archetype
Verb
Definition 1: To make an exact genetic copy of an organism, cell, or segment of DNA, typically through asexual reproduction.
Synonyms: reproduce, duplicate, replicate, propagate
Antonyms: originate, create, conceive
Definition 2: To create an exact copy or reproduction of something, such as a computer program, a design, or a physical object.
Synonyms: copy, duplicate, replicate, mimic, reproduce
Antonyms: invent, devise, modify, alter
Examples of Use
Books:
"In Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park, the central premise revolves around scientists bringing dinosaurs back to life by cloning them from ancient DNA."
"The novel Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro explores the ethical and emotional complexities surrounding human clones raised for organ donation."
Newspapers:
"Scientists in South Korea announced a breakthrough in stem cell research, successfully creating human embryo clones for therapeutic purposes." ( The New York Times)
"The company faced criticism for releasing a smartphone that many tech reviewers dismissed as a 'clone' of its competitor's flagship device." ( The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"Developers are often looking for open-source alternatives, or 'clones,' of expensive software to use in their projects." ( TechCrunch)
"A recent article on Nature.com discussed the challenges and advancements in reproductive cloning, particularly concerning endangered species." ( Nature.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "In Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, the Grand Army of the Republic is revealed to be an army of genetically engineered clone troopers."
Television Series: "The show Orphan Black centers on a woman who discovers she is one of several human clones, each with a unique life and personality."
Video Games: "Many online multiplayer games feature 'clone' characters or abilities, allowing players to create temporary duplicates of themselves or allies." ( League of Legends, ongoing)
Music: "The band released a new single that some critics panned as a 'generic pop clone' of their earlier, more original work."
General Public Discourse:
"After the success of the first restaurant, the owner decided to open a second location that was a near-perfect clone of the original, right down to the decor."
"Politicians are often accused of being 'clones' of their party leaders, simply repeating talking points without independent thought."
"The fashion industry is notorious for designers creating 'clones' of high-end runway looks for the mass market."
10 Quotes Using Clone
"It's better to be individual than a clone of someone else." (Fennel Hudson, Fine Things: Fennel's Journal No. 8)
"No one can tell the difference between a clone and a human. That's because there isn't any difference." (Nancy Farmer, The House of the Scorpion)
"A clone is not a child, not a twin, not a narcissistic reflection; rather, it is the materialization of a double by genetic means - in other words, the abolition of all otherness and of the entire imaginary sphere." (Jean Baudrillard, The Transparency of Evil: Essays in Extreme Phenomena)
"The cloning of humans is on most of the lists of things to worry about from Science, along with behaviour control, genetic engineering, transplanted heads, computer poetry and the unrestrained growth of plastic flowers." (Lewis Thomas, A Long Line of Cells Collected Essays)
"A clone may be a good copy, but you are the real thing!" (Anthony T. Hincks)
"We're all ultimately incompatible. If I were to meet my exact clone, it would just be a matter of time before I and me would go our separate ways." (Brant Hansen, Blessed Are the Misfits)
"I always wondered if you clone your wife and have the cloned wife on the moon and the real wife down here, would that be considered cheating?" (Luis Guzman)
"Sheep have been successful. So one asks, 'Where do humans lie?' Most people think they are somewhere between the two, but at least there's a reasonable chance they might be clone-able." (John Gurdon)
"We have to wake up. We have to refuse to be a clone." (Alice Walker)
"There are a lot of people highly motivated to be the first to clone a human." (Gregory Stock)
Etymology
The word "clone" comes from the Ancient Greek word "κλών" (klōn), which means "twig," "spray," or "slip."
Its first known use, or at least its formal introduction into scientific language, was in 1903 by American plant physiologist Herbert J. Webber. At that time, it was spelled "clon." Webber used it in the field of botany to refer to a group of plants that were all grown from a single original plant through asexual reproduction. Think of taking a cutting from a plant and growing a new, identical plant from it – that new plant, and all subsequent plants grown this way, would be considered part of the "clon."
The final "e" was added to "clon" around 1905 (suggested by botanist Charles Louis Pollard) to make sure people pronounced the "o" with a long "o" sound, like in "bone," rather than a short "o" sound, like in "on."
So, essentially, the word started its life in the world of plants, describing the process of creating new, genetically identical plants from a "twig" or cutting of an original. Over time, its meaning expanded to include other forms of biological replication and, eventually, any exact copy or reproduction.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Clone
Carbon copy clone: An exact replica, emphasizing the identical nature.
To clone an idea/concept: To reproduce or imitate an idea closely.
To clone a hard drive: In computing, to create an exact duplicate of a disk's contents.
Behavioral clone: Someone who mimics another's actions or mannerisms very closely.
The clone army: (often from pop culture, referring to a large group of identical individuals)
A clone of success: A follow-up project that attempts to replicate the success of an earlier one.
Like two peas in a pod: (idiom using a synonym for "clone," meaning very similar or identical)
Spitting image: (idiom using a synonym for "clone," meaning an exact likeness)
A Xerox copy: (idiom using a synonym for "clone," meaning an exact duplicate)
Run a perfect duplicate: To execute a process or create something that is indistinguishable from the original.
Mirror image: (phrase using a synonym for "clone," referring to something that reflects another exactly)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of clone from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
