Bad news for Duncan Idaho

Whizbang Dustyboots · 2026-03-26T18:59:32+0000

Clones of clones of clones eventually pile up genetic anomalies, with the 58th generation of clones of a lab mouse dying within days.

Scientists tried to clone mice indefinitely – and made a grave discovery

Scientists cloned 1,206 mice from one female donor over 20 years to test the limits of cloning

www.independent.co.uk

Scribe · 2026-03-26T19:04:15+0000

Scared Jimmy Fallon GIF by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Reynard · 2026-03-26T19:11:15+0000

I have never understood the value of clones except in very particular (probably unethical) medical circumstances. otherwise, if you can clone, you can just fertilize eggs.

GreyLord · 2026-03-26T22:30:19+0000

Mickey 17

Forget 58 generations....Mickey only took 18...though with 18...maybe that's just what they needed to set things right.

Reynard · 2026-03-26T22:31:12+0000

GreyLord said:
Mickey 17

Forget 58 generations....Mickey only took 18...though with 18...maybe that's just what they needed to set things right.

Great movie. I should track down the book.

Koloth · 2026-03-26T22:39:19+0000

Cloning didn't work out for the Stargate Asgard either.

DrunkonDuty · 2026-03-26T22:43:12+0000

Honestly, I think Duncan might have preferred a max of 58 incarnations over what he got, complete with all the (mostly horrible) memories of all the thousands of other Duncans.

aco175 · 2026-03-27T01:36:57+0000

Horwath · 2026-03-27T09:52:12+0000

So Startrek and Stargate were right.

Rabulias · 2026-03-27T11:00:23+0000

Horwath said:
So Startrek and Stargate were right.

As well as Star Wars (and a number of other sci-fi stories that involve cloning) which implies or outright states that you need the original donor cells on hand to make viable clones.