Cloning involves producing genetically identical individuals through recombinant DNA technology and molecular cloning techniques. There are several types of cloning including DNA cloning, reproductive cloning, and therapeutic cloning. Reproductive cloning uses somatic cell nuclear transfer to generate an animal with the same nuclear DNA as another existing or previously existing animal. Therapeutic cloning produces human embryos for stem cell research to study development and treat diseases. While cloning research has potential benefits, there are also significant health and ethical risks involved especially for reproductive cloning in humans.