Cloning

OOC Info: The information below can be considered general knowledge. It can be assumed that your character had an opportunity to come across this information in their travels or that if they were to 'look it up', this information would be straight forward to obtain.

Human cloning is a technology that dates back to the late 20th century. Though the technology, and it's testing on humans was outlawed at first, research continued and the tools that make cloning possible were perfected over time.

The most important breakthrough in the technology came when it became possible to fully map and digitize the human consciousness. This allowed corporations such as Sense/Net to keep backup copies of their clients which could be downloaded into fresh human clones.

Cloning Process

Clones are vat-grown and kept in various storage facilities throughout the world. Their genetic data is kept very much open, and when a new clone is to be activated it is implanted with the DNA of the new host and put through a series of speed growths, allowing a fully mature and 99.9% accurate clone of an individual to be created in just under an hour.

Degenerative Clone Disorder

Cloned genetic data is copied and re-copied, often in a cycle which degrades the quality of the DNA. This problem manifests as a Degenerative Clone Disorder (DCD). The disorder is mainly a deterioration, or a degeneration of the actual genetic material. Each time you die and come back as a clone, the chance that you'll contract DCD goes up. According to Genetek's data, which is based on the number of clones activated in a given year and the number of documented cases of treatment sought, less than 1% of 1% of activated clones are afflicted with the disorder. Related disorders include Carson's Disease.

The symptoms of DCD include fever, chills, sweating, lightheadedness, drowsiness, loss of equilibrium, sudden nosebleeds, slurred speech, abdominal pains and fatigue.

ViriiSoma Pharmaceuticals can cure the symptoms, for a price, but eventually the symptoms will return in a future clone.

Asynchronous Neurodegenerative Biogenesis Controvsery

In 2105, Andrew Hernandez, a native Mexican teen, was found dead in his home. The cause of death was presumed to be ANB, due to the telltale black, emulsified brain matter found within his skull. A week later, Andrew Hernandez' clone was released from its pod. New Light Media reported that Hernandez murdered his girlfriend, then killed himself upon finding out his previous cause of death. After releasing the information revolving Hernandez' tragic murder-suicide, Sense/Net released a report stating they would no longer store or clone those determined to be killed from Asynchronous Neurodegenerative Biogenesis. Eternalists found the ANB clone exemption to be unjust and riots ensued. A year of global riots followed, but no change followed and Sense/Net maintained their stance. Eventually, Eternalists' became fed up and began plotting terror attacks against Sense/Net and local Genetek clinics.

Cloning Laws

There are many laws governing the treatment of clones, many depend on the area in which the clone resides. However, there are two major laws that are accepted across the entire world, via UN mandate.

A clone is an actual human being and should be treated as such.

Only one copy of a person may exist at any one time. Cloning a person multiple times is highly illegal and the penalty for breaking this law can be perma-death.

Cloning and Religion

When cloning was perfected and brought to the masses, several new religions formed or broke-off of existing religions. The fastest to grow was Eternalism which is considered an off shoot of Christianity. Eternalists believe that when someone dies and clones, the process brings that person closer to God.

Main-stream Christianity, once the richest and most popular religion in the world became a poverty stricken ghost of itself as hoards of middle and upper class people left it's ranks to join the Eternalist faith, which was both familiar and exciting.

Catholics, led by the Pope have long held fast that clones are abominations and should all be destroyed.