The first animal to be genetically cloned was Dolly the sheep, who was born in 1996. Cloned using a technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer, Dolly was created by scientists at the Roslin Institute in Scotland. This breakthrough demonstrated that it was possible to create a genetically identical organism from an adult cell, challenging previously held notions about cell differentiation and development. Dolly's birth sparked significant discussions about the ethics of cloning and its implications for biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture. She lived until 2003 and remains a pivotal figure in genetics research and discussions surrounding cloning technologies.