To catch a clone

[nexus]

Given a "realistic" clone what are some of the possible differences between it and the original? Scars and other non genetic defects are one, I beleive the retinal blood vessel pattern might be different. What else?

[McCoy]

Re: To catch a clone

 

Given a "realistic" clone what are some of the possible differences between it and the original? Scars and other non genetic defects are one' date=' I beleive the retinal blood vessel pattern might be different. What else?[/quote']

Age for one thing. If you've read the Vorkosegan novles of Lois McMaster Bujold you know Miles and his six years younger identical twin. And the difficulty Rowen had figuring out which of the three she had as her patient.

 

It is not currently know how much genetics influences fingerprints, some identical twins have very simular prints, others wildly different.

 

If the clone was not raised to replace the original, might be some differences in accent. Have a friend who moved from Alabama to California at the age of three. Most of the time the California accent comes through, but if he is talking to anyone with a Southern accent he starts drawling, and is totally unaware of it. The milk tongue may be impossible to erradicate.

[Lord Liaden]

Re: To catch a clone

 

If the clone and the original lived in different areas for an extended period, some trace minerals in the blood, bone and other tissues may be different. Forensic anthropologists can often identify the region of origin of human bodies based on the concentration of certain elements in their remains.

[Mister E]

Re: To catch a clone

 

If the clone and the original lived in different areas for an extended period' date=' some trace minerals in the blood, bone and other tissues may be different. Forensic anthropologists can often identify the region of origin of human bodies based on the concentration of certain elements in their remains.[/quote']

 

Specifically differences in isotope concentrations, I believe. I can't remember exactly how it goes, but there is a difference in varied isotope concentrations between surf and turf diets.

[BobGreenwade]

Re: To catch a clone

 

Certain aspects of personality are also very individual, as are certain fine nuances of appearance.

 

Basically, whatever you can find in differences between identical twins, you should also be able to find between clones -- plus, as McCoy mentioned, age.

[austenandrews]

Re: To catch a clone

 

Does the cloning process itself produce identifying evidence?

[BobGreenwade]

Re: To catch a clone

 

Does the cloning process itself produce identifying evidence?

There's a kind of cellular degeneration that's either specific to or especially distinctive in cloning, but I can't recall (or quickly find) the term.

[David Johnston]

Re: To catch a clone

 

You're probably thinking about the fact that they discovered that the telomeres in clones are no longer than they are in the parent, meaning that even though they are actually younger, the aging process will set in earlier for the clone.

[Mentor]

Re: To catch a clone

 

Different knowledge bases would also revel the difference. A good detective should be able to catch the clone due to lack of the knowledge or experiences of the original.

[Vanguard]

Re: To catch a clone

 

You're also looking at different heat signatures on thermal imaging as well as different scents if you happen to have a super sniffer.

[McCoy]

Re: To catch a clone

 

Does the cloning process itself produce identifying evidence?

 

There's a kind of cellular degeneration that's either specific to or especially distinctive in cloning' date=' but I can't recall (or quickly find) the term.[/quote']

 

You're probably thinking about the fact that they discovered that the telomeres in clones are no longer than they are in the parent' date=' meaning that even though they are actually younger, the aging process will set in earlier for the clone.[/quote']

So far. Possibly a super-science or just more advanced regular science upgrade in technique will correct this.

[Markdoc]

Re: To catch a clone

 

The twins analogy is the way to go, but not exact. Assuming the cloning process is efficient, you can still expect anything not hard-coded to differ - which means, in fact that a clone (by definition developing in a different environment/mother) will be MORE different from the original than a homozygotic twin.

 

Thus: retinal patterns, follicle layout, voice patterns and fingerprints will NOT be identical - they may not even be any closer than two similarly-sized, related people. HLA-typing and similar immunology-based blood tests will also readily tell them apart.

 

Sorry.

 

Depending on nutritional status, environment and exposure to disease, height, weight and intelligence may be very similar or somewhat different.

 

On the other hand, given similar environments, the two will probably look very much alike- even to the point that people might have difficulty distinguishing them, if the age difference is not significant.

 

cheers, Mark

[Sundog]

Re: To catch a clone

 

The synaptic connection patterns in the brain will be different. Of course, currently we can only observe those patterns post-mortem, but that may well not always be the case.