The process of creating a genetically identical organism is called cloning. Cloning can occur naturally, as seen in the reproduction of identical twins, or artificially through techniques such as somatic cell nuclear transfer. This technique involves replacing the nucleus of an egg cell with the nucleus from a somatic (body) cell, resulting in an organism that has the same genetic makeup as the donor. Cloning has applications in agriculture, medicine, and conservation but also raises ethical and ecological considerations.