What defines the process of cloning?

Cloning is specifically defined as the process of producing an organism from a single somatic cell. This is distinct from other forms of reproduction, which often involve the combination of genetic material from two parents. In cloning, the genetic material from a single somatic cell is used to create a genetically identical organism. This method bypasses the typical reproductive process, utilizing techniques such as somatic cell nuclear transfer, where the nucleus of a somatic cell is inserted into an egg cell that has had its nucleus removed.

The focus on a single somatic cell emphasizes that cloning produces a genetic copy of the organism from which the somatic cell was derived. This is what sets cloning apart from processes such as the formation of zygotes or the production of gametes, which involve contributions from two different genetic sources and are associated with sexual reproduction.