What is the process called in which a cell or organism is copied from an original source?

Cloning is the process in which a cell or organism is copied from an original source. This can occur through various methods, such as asexual reproduction, somatic cell nuclear transfer, or other techniques that produce a genetically identical copy of the original. Cloning can involve the replication of DNA and cellular components to create an identical organism or cell line, making it a precise method of duplicating genetic information and characteristics.

In biological contexts, cloning can apply to whole organisms, tissues, or cells, emphasizing the significance of the genetic similarity between the clone and the original source. This process is distinct from other terms like replication, which typically refers to the duplication of DNA molecules within the cell, and reproduction, which generally encompasses the broader process of creating offspring that may not be genetically identical. Transcription, on the other hand, is specifically the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template, which does not involve the copying of entire cells or organisms.