View source for Cloning

[[File:Last Order and Sisters - Index Ep19.jpg|thumb|220px|The Sisters, clones of Misaka Mikoto and the most prominent case of cloning in the ''Toaru'' series.]]{{UncertainPositioning|See image below}}
{{Nihongo|'''Cloning'''|クローニング |Kurōningu}}<!--is this term used in text?--> is the process of creating a genetically identical copy, a {{Nihongo|'''clone'''|クローン|Kurōn}}, of a source organism.

=={{TrackTag25}}Etymology==
The term 'clone' was derived from Ancient Greek ''κλών/klōn'' (meaning "twig"), referencing to the {{W|Vegetative reproduction|process}} where a new plant can be created from a {{W|Cutting (plant)|twig}} of an existing one.

==Principles==
Cloning is the process of using the genetic material (DNA) of a source organism to produce a genetically identical organism, known as a clone.{{RLRef}}

[[File:Dividing egg cell - Railgun Ch19.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Cell division in an egg cell]]
The method generally used when artificially cloning an animal organism is a process known as {{W|somatic cell nuclear transfer}} (SCNT). The process requires a viable {{W|somatic cell}} from the organism to be cloned and an unfertilized egg cells, with its cell nucleus (containing DNA) removed. The cell nucleus is removed from the somatic cell and inserted into the egg cell. Stimulation may be provided to get the cell division going.{{RLRef}} Once it is ready, it is either implanted into the womb of a surrogate mother{{RLRef}}<!--Paragraph End Reference applies after this point but not before it--> or (as in the case of the Sisters), grown within a special cultivation tank filled with a culture fluid.<ref name=IndexV3Ch2Pt8>{{Qvl|Index|L|3}} Chapter 2 Part 8</ref><ref name=RailgunCh19>{{Qcl|Railgun|19}}</ref><ref name=RailgunCh20>{{Qcl|Railgun|20}}</ref>{{CiteA|Other?}}

Given the ramifications of human cloning, ethical and otherwise, it is illegal under international law.<ref name=IndexV3Ch3Pt2>{{Qvl|Index|L|3}} Chapter 3 Part 2</ref><ref name=IndexSS2Ch22/><ref name=SouyakuV4Ch3Pt8>{{Qvl|Souyaku|L|4}} Chapter 3 Part 8</ref><ref name=SouyakuV4Ch3Pt10/>{{Cite}} Academy City supposedly abides by these laws,<ref name=IndexV3Ch3Pt2/><ref name=IndexSS2Ch22/>{{Cite}} though the city has actually pursued and carried out human cloning in secret, as shown with the Sisters.<ref name=IndexV3/>{{Cite}}

An ancient variation of cloning used in horticulture for {{W|Vegetative reproduction|artificially propagating plants}} (from which the term derives its name), involves taking a viable {{W|Cutting (plant)|cutting}} from a plant (often a piece of the stem or root, but sometimes a piece of leaf) and placing into a suitable medium, like moist soil, with the cutting growing into a new plant if the conditions are right.{{RLRef}}

===Sisters===
{{Main|Sisters}}
The most prominent examples of human cloning are the Sisters,<!--Note/Ref here?--> mass-produced clones of [[Level 5]] [[esper]] [[Misaka Mikoto]], secretly devised and created as part of the [[Radio Noise Project|Radio Noise]] and the [[Level 6 Shift Project]]s.

[[File:Sisters Cloning Tank (Occupied).png|thumb|220px|Cloning tanks containing Sisters]]{{UncertainPositioning|See image above}}<!--[[File:Sisters cloning tank - Railgun Ch37.jpg|thumb|Cloning tanks containing Sisters]]{{UncertainPositioning|See image above}}-->
Using Misaka Mikoto's DNA map and somatic cells from a sample of her hair, acquired by researchers under the pretext of applications for treating muscular dystrophy and added to the [[Bank]],<ref name=IndexV3Ch2Pt8/><ref name=RailgunCh19/>{{CiteA|Other references?}} fertilized egg cells were created via SCNT-based methods and grown within cultivation chambers.<ref name=IndexV3Ch2Pt8/><ref name=RailgunCh19/><ref name=RailgunCh20/>{{CiteA|Other}} While in the culture fluid, the clones were exposed to a number of drugs, including Zid-02, Riz-13 and Hel-03, in order to stimulate rapid biological development, growing from a {{W|zygote}} to the body of a 14 year old teenager in 14 days.<ref name=IndexV3Ch2Pt8/><ref name=RailgunCh19/><ref name=RailgunSEp17>{{Qal|Railgun2|E|17}}</ref> Released from the containers with the mentality of a newborn infant,<ref name=RailgunCh20/> [[Testament]]s were used to install information into their brains.<ref name=IndexV3Ch2Pt8/><ref name=RailgunCh19/><ref name=RailgunCh20/>

The treatment for stimulating rapid growth and additional adjustments drastically reduced the clones' already shortened lifespan,<ref name=IndexV3Ch2Pt8/><ref name=IndexV3Ep/><ref name=RailgunCh20/><ref group=Notes name=DollyTheSheep>{{W|Dolly the sheep}} was the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell using the nuclear transfer process, born in 1996 and dying in 2003 (with the first volume of ''Toaru Majutsu no Index'' being released in 2004). When she was euthanized, due to a progressive lung disease and severe arthritis, Dolly was six and a half years old (a Finn Dorset sheep having a life expectancy of 11-12 years). Although scientists believed that this was unconnected to the cloning process (with other sheep in the same flock dying of the same disease and it being a danger for sheep kept indoors, with Dolly having to sleep inside for security), there was press speculation in that a contributing factor in her early death was being born with a genetic age of six (the same as the sheep from which was cloned) or experiencing advanced aging - partially based on the finding that Dolly's {{W|telomere}}{{TrackTag69|}}s were short, typically a result of aging. The idea of degeneration and accelerated aging in clones has been featured in various works of fiction. In 2016, a study of several cloned sheep including four from the same cell line as Dolly, found no defects or evidence of detrimental long-term effects from the cloning process, with the four being alive and relatively healthy at the age of nine.</ref> such that they would have only had around 1 or 2 years left without further adjustments to eliminate the hormone imbalances resulting from the stimulation and correct the rate of cell division, with a good portion of life span recoverable in this way.<ref name=IndexV3Ep>{{Qvl|Index|L|3}} Epilogue</ref><ref name=RailgunSEp17/>

{{TSP}}While the Sisters are [[Electromaster]]s like Misaka Mikoto,{{Cite}} they are only [[Level 2]]-[[Level 3]] as opposed to [[Level 5]],<ref name=RailgunCh19/>{{Cite}} with the [[Tree Diagram|prediction]] of them only having a tiny fraction of the original's power resulting in the suspension of the original [[Radio Noise Project]],<ref name=RailgunCh19/>{{Cite}} which aimed to mass-produce Level 5 clones for military purposes,<!--OT1, <ref name=IndexV3Ch2Pt7/><ref name=IndexV3Ch3Pt1/>-->{{Cite}} with the subsequent repurposing as fodder for [[Accelerator]]'s development in the [[Level 6 Shift Project]] (itself a cover).{{Cite}} The [[brainwave network]] between the Sisters, the [[Misaka Network]],{{Cite}} played a key role in [[Aleister's Plan]],{{Cite}} with [[Last Order]] (#20001) acting as the control tower.{{Cite}} Before the mass-production of the Sisters, a prototype clone (#0), [[Dolly]], was created as part of a pair to test the cloning technology and the shared network,{{Cite}} with [[Full Tuning]] (#00000) prior to [[Misaka 1]].<ref name=IndexSS2Ch13>{{Qvl|Index|L|SS2}} Chapter 13</ref>{{TrackTag107}}<ref name=FullTuningTweet>[https://togetter.com/li/700185 Ogino Kentarou (Railgun editor), Q&A]. Archived from {{TwTrack}}[https://twitter.com/gouranga_/status/494437505651859456 the original]. Retrieved on 23 February 2020.</ref><ref name=RailgunCh37>{{Qcl|Railgun|37}}</ref> At least one older next-generation clone, [[Misaka Worst]], was created for the [[Third Season]] prior to its suspension.<ref name=IndexV20Ch3Pt2/><ref name=IndexV20Ch3Pt7/><ref name=IndexV22Ep/><ref name=ShinyakuV3Ch1Pt7/>

===Other===
{{UncertainPositioning|Clone Dolly (naming note), Non-genetic use of term 'clone' - either here or in Trivia}}
{{Expand|Similar things on the Magic Side<!--Homunculi--><br>Other examples of non-human cloning?<br>Other bio-science projects with similar methods but different from cloning?}}
Restaurants in Academy City commonly use cloned meat, and vegetables grown in windowless agricultural buildings.<ref name=ShinyakuV11Pr>{{Qvl|Shinyaku|L|11}} Prologue</ref><ref name=ShinyakuV14Ch2Pt9>{{Qvl|Shinyaku|L|14}} Chapter 2 Part 9</ref>

There are a number of biological science projects and creations in Academy City which have involved similarities and similar methods but also key differences from cloning. Examples include the [[Chemicaloid Project]] (not cloning an existing person but creating one from scratch),{{Cite|Respective episode references - Silent Party Arc}} and [[Biohacker|biohacking]] (rearranging and combining DNA from different life forms to create hybrids).<ref name=BiohackerSSCh1>[[Toaru Majutsu no Index SS: Biohacker]] Chapter 1</ref>{{TrackTag106}}<!--[[Flower Resistance]]? (NT22R)-->

One of the many inaccurate [[Urban Legend]]s surrounding the [[Imaginary Number District]], involves a cloning workshop that stored the DNA of great people from around the world and had analyzed their genetics to the point that they could create as many geniuses as needed at the push of a button.<ref name=IndexV3Ch2Pt8/> While Academy City is fully capable of human cloning,<ref name=IndexV3/>{{Cite}} the actual [[Clone Dolly Workshop]]{{UncertainPositioning}} (aside from being tasked with the prototype Sister clone [[Dolly]]),<ref name=RailgunCh59>{{Qcl|Railgun|59}}</ref><ref name=RailgunCh60>{{Qcl|Railgun|60}}</ref><ref name=RailgunCh61>{{Qcl|Railgun|61}}</ref><ref group=Notes name=DollyTheSheep/> while working to produce (or procure) geniuses, mainly focused on other methods.<ref name=RailgunCh59/><ref name=RailgunCh60/><ref name=RailgunCh61/>{{CiteA|Astral?}}

The practice of cloning is a scientific one and as such restricted to the Science Side, however there are approximate equivalents, with some similarities yet different methods, on the Magic Side for producing an organism from source material or reproducing an individual.{{Cite|References for respective methods}}<!--Aureolus Dummy--><ref name=IndexV2Ch2Pt6>{{Qvl|Index|L|2}} Chapter 2 Part 6</ref><!--Alfar--><ref name = KanzakiSSCh4Pt2>[[Toaru Majutsu no Index SS: Kanzaki]] Chapter 4 Part 2</ref><!--Mina or not?--><!--GD recreations?--><ref name=ShinyakuV21Ch2Pt7>{{Qvl|Shinyaku|L|21}} Chapter 2 Part 7</ref><ref name=ShinyakuV21Ch3Pt1>{{Qvl|Shinyaku|L|21}} Chapter 3 Part 1</ref><ref name=ShinyakuV21Ch3Pt3>{{Qvl|Shinyaku|L|21}} Chapter 3 Part 3</ref><ref name=ShinyakuV22>{{Qvl|Shinyaku|L|22}}</ref><!--Homunculi - mentioned by Ollerus during Toaru IF re-telling of encounter with Sisters--><ref name=ToaruIF>[[Toaru Majutsu no Index: Imaginary Fest]]<!--Ollerus Character Side-Story #?--></ref> Cloning has been referred to in various explanations and analogies regarding how magicians can create a [[soul]]<!--and life--> without fully understanding the nature and mechanisms of the soul.{{Cite|References for all mentions}}

==Background==
Although a variant for artificially propagating plants from cuttings has long been used in horticulture, the development of methods for artificially cloning organisms came about in the 20th century, with the groundwork being laid in the first half and actual successes in cloning non-human organisms in the second half. Although it had not been carried out, the possibilities and ramifications of human cloning, ethical and otherwise, led to international laws being passed forbidding attempts to clone humans.

{{TSP|Refine further?}}However, within a few [[Years Ago|years before]] the events of the series, plans were enacted in [[Academy City]] to mass-produce human clones,{{Cite}} using a genetic sample and DNA map from the young Level 5 candidate [[Misaka Mikoto]], under the pretext of work to cure muscular dystrophy.{{Cite}} The [[Radio Noise Project]] was intended to mass-produce Level 5 clones for military purposes,{{Cite}} though predictions of the clones only possessing a tiny fraction of the original's power would lead to plans to instead produce and use clones as experimental fodder for [[Accelerator]]'s development in the [[Level 6 Shift Project]],{{Cite}} both cover for a more hidden role as part of [[Aleister's Plan|Aleister's plan]].{{Cite}} A prototype clone, [[Dolly]],{{Cite}} was first created to test the cloning technology and brainwave networking,{{Cite}} with the [[Clone Dolly Workshop]] being tasked with monitoring her,{{Cite}} resulting in the clone meeting future Level 5 [[Shokuhou Misaki]] before her death.{{Cite}} After [[Full Tuning]],<ref name=IndexSS2Ch13/><ref name=FullTuningTweet/> production began on the clones intended to be killed by Accelerator, starting with [[Misaka 1]],<ref name=RailgunCh37/>{{Cite}} and continued until the events of the series,{{Cite}} with over 20,000 being created in all.{{Cite}}

==Chronology==
===Toaru Majutsu no Index===
====Sisters Arc====
{{Main/Sisters Arc}}
[[File:Toaru Majutsu no Index E11 09m 55s.jpg|thumb|220px|Several of the Sisters during the Level 6 Shift Project, following [[Misaka 10031]]'s death]]
Human cloning was at the heart of the events surrounding the events surrounding the [[Level 6 Shift Project]], which involved the mass-produced clones of [[Misaka Mikoto]], the [[Sisters]].<ref name=IndexV3>{{Qvl|Index|L|3}}</ref>

====Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume SS2====
{{TrackTag123}}{{TrackTag117}}{{Main|Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume SS2}}
During the [[Gemstone Mining]] incident, after [[Kumokawa Seria]] approached [[Heaven Canceller]] and mobilized the [[Sisters]] to rescue the captured [[Gemstone]]s around the world, [[George Kingdom]] received reports of the identical girls and realized their nature as he was contacted by Kumokawa. After a brief conversation, in which she referenced to the illegality of human cloning, she had him promptly silenced through assassination by [[Kinuhata Saiai]].<ref name=IndexSS2Ch22>{{TrackTag79}}[[Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume SS2]] Chapter 22</ref>{{TrackTag107}} News also reached Mikoto's father [[Misaka Tabigake]], prompting a phone call to Board Chairman Aleister.<ref name=IndexSS2Ch22/>

====World War III Arc====
{{Main/World War III Arc}}
At least one [[Third Season]] clone, [[Misaka Worst]], had been produced at the time of [[World War III]], prior to the project's apparent suspension.<ref name=IndexV20Ch3Pt2>{{Qvl|Index|L|20}} Chapter 3 Part 2</ref><ref name=IndexV20Ch3Pt7>{{Qvl|Index|L|20}} Chapter 3 Part 7</ref><ref name=IndexV22Ep>{{Qvl|Index|L|22}} Epilogue</ref><ref name=ShinyakuV3Ch1Pt7>{{Qvl|Shinyaku|L|3}} Chapter 1 Part 7</ref>

===Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index===
====Coronzon Arc====
{{Main/Coronzon Arc}}
Academy City's cloning technology was referenced (along with [[Micro Cosmos]] indirectly) during the discussion between [[Mina Mathers (Reading Thoth 78)|Mina Mathers]] and [[Heaven Canceller]] about the methods needed to give [[Lilith Crowley]] a physical body.<ref name=ShinyakuV21Ch2Pt4>{{Qvl|Shinyaku|L|21}} Chapter 2 Part 4</ref> While looking at the newspapers in [[Qliphah Puzzle 545]]'s dress, which appear differently to different people, Accelerator saw condemnatory articles about Academy City's human cloning.<ref name=ShinyakuV21Ch1>{{Qvl|Shinyaku|L|21}} Chapter 1</ref>{{TrackTag106}}

====Kamijou Arc====
{{Main/Kamijou Arc}}
When using the [[Flower Resistance]] during his battle with [[Elizard]], [[Accelerator]] referred to how cloning and genetic manipulation wasn't exclusive to animals and with selective breeding, was a lot more common with plants.<ref name=ShinyakuV22RCh4Pt11>{{Qvl|Shinyaku|L|22 Reverse}} Chapter 4 Part 11</ref>

===Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index===
====Los Angeles Arc====
{{Main/Los Angeles Arc}}{{TrackTag61}}
On December 26th, on the same day as the joint Academy City-[[Anglican]] [[Operation Overlord Revenge|counterattack]] against [[R&C Occultics]] in [[Los Angeles]], [[Accelerator]] went on [[Trial of Accelerator|trial]] for the clone killings in the [[Level 6 Shift Project]], intending to draw public scorn onto himself to distract people from any rejection towards the remaining clones.<ref name=SouyakuV4Ch3Pt5>{{Qvl|Souyaku|L|4}} Chapter 3 Part 5</ref> However, many people in the city for whom a guilty verdict and admitting to the clone experiment would be inconvenient, continued to deny his claims and tried to have the prosecution frame Accelerator as mentally unstable so his testimony and reports could be thrown out.<ref name=SouyakuV4Ch3Pt5/> 

Following a conversation between Accelerator and [[Dion Fortune]] which touched upon giving the clones true acceptance and a place in the world,<ref name=SouyakuV4Ch3Pt5/> the [[Sisters]] used information from the British government to come to the aid of [[Kamijou Touma]] who was fighting in Los Angeles to save the trapped population who had fallen victim to [[Citrinitas]] and [[Melzabeth Grocery]] from being framed for the crime, willingly exposing themselves to the world in the process.<ref name=SouyakuV4Ch3Pt10>{{Qvl|Souyaku|L|4}} Chapter 3 Part 10</ref> The display of their humanity and actions to help others,<ref name=SouyakuV4Ch3Pt10/><ref name=SouyakuV4Ch3Pt11>{{Qvl|Souyaku|L|4}} Chapter 3 Part 11</ref> along with voices of support from various people such as President [[Roberto Katze]],<ref name=SouyakuV4Ch3Pt11/><ref name=SouyakuV4Ch4Pt2>{{Qvl|Souyaku|L|4}} Chapter 4 Part 2</ref> overshadowing any who would denounce or call for their disposal,<ref name=SouyakuV4Ch3Pt5/><ref name=SouyakuV4Ch3Pt11/><ref name=SouyakuV4Ch4Pt2/> ultimately led to the clones themselves generally being received favorably by the world.<ref name=SouyakuV4Ep>{{Qvl|Souyaku|L|4}} Epilogue</ref>
====Post-Handcuffs Arc====
{{Main/Post-Handcuffs Arc}}
{{Expand|GT5 - News/Debates<ref name=SouyakuV5Ch1Pt3/><ref name=SouyakuV5Ch1Pt6>{{Qvl|Souyaku|L|5}} Chapter 1 Part 6</ref>}}
{{TSP}}On December 29th, in the wake of the [[Sisters]] being revealed to the world and the human rights of the clones being recognized, amidst a period of clone-related debates and other stuff in the news, it was reported that a biochemistry group comprised mostly of college students had just been arrested in Nuremberg, [[Germany]], having allegedly purchased and operated lab equipment in order to manipulate human DNA and create a human with less than 50% water content.<ref name=SouyakuV5Ch1Pt3>{{Qvl|Souyaku|L|5}} Chapter 1 Part 3</ref> The press officer involved apparently strongly denied rumors of the <!--benevolent-->unofficial cooperation of [[Academy City]] in the speedy arrest and said that people must pay careful attention to the changes in science ethics in academia.<ref name=SouyakuV5Ch1Pt3/>

===Toaru Kagaku no Railgun===
====Sisters Arc====
{{Main/Sisters Arc}}
{{Expand|Decide how to word differently from the Index entry}}
Human cloning was at the heart of the events surrounding the events surrounding the [[Level 6 Shift Project]], which involved the mass-produced clones of [[Misaka Mikoto]], the [[Sisters]].

====Dream Ranker Arc====
{{Main/Dream Ranker Arc}}
While talking with [[Misaka Mikoto]] about the [[cyborg]] [[Total Human Cyborg Replacement Project|experiment]] [[Kuriba Ryouko]] was involved in, her [[Kuriba Ryouko (Doppelganger)|mechanical doppelganger]] and the supposed "creation of a [[soul]]", asking her help in investigating, [[Shokuhou Misaki]] remarked that if a use was found for the experiment there was the possibility of the scientists trying to confirm their results with unwilling test subjects (given few would be willing to be cut up like Kuriba was), such as [[Child Error]]s or human clones. After the remark caused a brief electrical discharge from Mikoto, she quickly added that the labor and expense of making a cloning facility just for this experiment wouldn't be worth it.<ref name=RailgunCh86>{{Qcl|Railgun|86}}</ref><ref name=RailgunTEp21>{{Qal|Railgun3|E|21}}</ref>

{{TrackTag116}}
==Trivia==
{{UncertainPositioning|Clone Dolly (naming note), Non-genetic use of term 'clone' - either here or in Principles, Other}}
*Given the nature as a copy, the term 'clone' is sometimes used in other contexts in reference to general doubles, decoys and non-genetic copies, though these don't fit the definition of 'clone' as a genetic copy.<!--(e.g. Golem (check V6 text), kagebunshin ('shadow clone')-->
**In ''[[Toaru Majutsu no Index Struggle Battle]]'', there is an esper-related ability/phenomena known as '''AIM Clone'''<!--[https://w.atwiki.jp/index-index/pages/3080.html]-->.
<!--Note: Not listing clone characters as they are already covered on Sisters-->
<!--Ogino?-->

==External Links==
*{{W|Cloning|Cloning (Wikipedia article)}}
==Notes==
{{RefNotes}}
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Science]]