In biological sciences, cloning is the procedure used to produce identical copies of a cell or even an entire organism. A clone is produced when chromosomes from a cell in one organism are used as the genetic basis for another organism. This means that the two organisms are genetically identical to one another.

Believe it or not, the concepts of cloning have been around for quite awhile. In fact, Robert Briggs of Indiana University (our alma mater) worked on techniques for cloning in the 1950s and John Gurdon, whom we have met at Cambridge University, was the first to successfully clone an amphibian using chromosomes from a tadpole injected into a frog egg.

How does cloning work? Has it been successful for higher organisms? Can humans be cloned? Are clones exact copies? Is this the same as creating an organism? What are the moral implications? What is the role of stem cells in cloning?

These questions and more will be discussed.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Bob and Elizabeth Ridlon have written two books on creation including Creation or Evolution: Does it Matter? published in 2002 and recently wrote a chemistry textbook, entitled Christian Kids Explore Chemistry, which was published last year. Bob has spoken on various science topics at universities, creation associations, churches, and home school groups and has been interviewed on KSIV and KJSL radio.

Bob is a consultant for a private company and has been an adjunct faculty member at Southwestern Illinois College, Illinois in the information systems department since 1991. Mr. Ridlon earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biological Sciences from Indiana University; a Master of Science Degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology; and was a graduate student in biology at the University of Nebraska. Bob has several publications to his name including: Mestranol Receptor-Sites as a Relationship to Altered Cell Free Proteins; Scanning Electron Microscopy of the Tongue of the Snake Thamnophis radix, Gastric Mucosa of the Lizard, Anolis carolinensis.

Elizabeth is an adjunct faculty member at Southwestern Illinois College where she has taught General Biology, and Human Anatomy and Physiology. Prior to that, she taught biology at the University of Maryland, European Division. Mrs. Ridlon earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology from Indiana University, a Master of Arts Degree in Biology from the University of Nebraska, and a Secondary Teachers Certificate from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Her master's thesis was a study of the seasonal changes in the blood biochemistry of the Western Plains Garter Snake.