Cloning creates an exact genetic copy of an organism. It began in the 1950s with cloned tadpoles and has progressed to cloning mammals like Dolly the sheep in 1996. There are different types of cloning including reproductive cloning, therapeutic cloning to produce stem cells, and gene cloning. Cloning has potential pros like modifying genes and reviving extinct species, but also cons like low success rates, health issues in cloned animals, and reducing genetic diversity.