Objective: An animal clone is a genetic copy of a donor animal, similar to an identical twin born at a different time. Cloning is not the same as genetic engineering, which involves altering, adding or deleting DNA; cloning does not change the gene sequence. Researchers have been cloning livestock species since 1996, starting with the famous sheep named Dolly. Method & Materials: Animal cloning using nuclear transfer technology in domestic animals is being developed for agricultural and medical purposes. In agricultural applications, animal cloning currently focuses on the reproduction of genetically valuable animals producing high quality/ quantity meat and milk. The development and use of meat and milk products derived from cloned animals depends on their safety and the nutritional advantages they confer to the products, as perceived by consumers. However, somatic cloned animals have an increased incidence of developmental abnormalities and neonatal death, perhaps due to aberrant genes. Results & Conclusion: For more than five years, scientists of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) studied hundreds of published reports and other detailed information on clones of livestock animals to evaluate the safety of food from these animals. FDA has concluded that cattle, swine, and goat clones, and the offspring of any animal clones traditionally consumed as food, are safe for human and animal consumption. The composition of food products from cattle, swine, and goat clones, or the offspring of any animal clones, is no different from that of conventionally bred animals. Due to the lack of information on clone species other than cow, goat, and pig (for example, sheep), FDA recommends that other clone species do not enter the human food supply. Food labels do not have to state that food is from animal clones or their offspring. FDA has found no science-based reason to require labels to distinguish between products from clones and products from conventionally produced animals.

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