30 years after Dolly the sheep: What has cloning achieved?

Thirty years ago, the birth of Dolly the sheep, the first mammal to be cloned, heralded a new era in biotechnology. At the time, Dolly's existence fueled predictions of a future where cloned pets and even resurrected extinct species would become commonplace.

However, the reality of cloning has turned out to be far more intricate than those early visions suggested. The process of "copying" living organisms is technically demanding and expensive. Today, cloning has evolved into a practical, albeit costly, tool utilized in specific fields such as medicine, agriculture, and conservation efforts.

This article delves into the mechanisms behind cloning technology, explaining its scientific underpinnings. It also addresses the persistent question of why human cloning, despite the advancements, largely remains confined to the domain of science fiction, exploring the ethical, technical, and societal barriers that prevent its realization.