Clonal repeatability
Joan Hawthorne, on her cloned dog:
They’re not at all alike. In looks, they are a little bit, of course. But, I mean, the puppy is delicate and aggressive. Missy was robust and completely calm…Missy wouldn’t come through my home and knock over every wineglass.
Joan has discovered the limits of clonal repeatability. Clonal repeatability is the ratio between genetic and phenotypic variance, H2 = VG/VP. This is distinct from heritability, which only includes additive genetic variance. VG includes dominance and epistatic variance over and above additive genetic (Falconer and Mackay, p 125).
Clones are not identical double-goers. They are only given the potential of turning out just like little Missy 1.0 if they are also given exactly the same environment in which to develop. This is basically impossible, since even the surrogate mother imparts external traits like fur curl.
Cloned dogs could do wonders for behavior genetic research, as dogs have undergone recent and diversifying selection for behavior. But I find the "opportunity to have the same dog with you for your entire life" depressing.
Falconer and Mackay (1996) Introduction to Quantitative Genetics. 4th edition. Essex, England: Pearson.
