Cloning Technology

Cloning technology represents one of the most significant and controversial technological developments in Horizon City. Through a combination of advanced biotechnology and neural interface memory transfer, it offers a form of functional immortality to those who can afford it. Pioneered by Emi Tanaka, known as "the mother of commercial cloning," this technology has evolved from basic memory transfer to more advanced systems.

Technical Process

The cloning process involves several distinct phases:

1. Genetic Sampling: DNA is extracted from the client and stored in Genetek's secure genetic vault.

2. Clone Cultivation: When needed, the genetic material is used to grow a clone in an accelerated development chamber. Growth hormones and specialized nutrients allow the clone to reach the client's physical age in a matter of weeks rather than years.

3. Neural Preparation: The clone's brain is prepared with a specialized neural interface designed to receive the memory imprint of the original.

4. Memory Transfer: The client's memories, recorded through regular neural interface backups, are transferred to the clone. Any memories formed between the last backup and death are permanently lost, making regular backups essential for those who can afford them.

5. Revival: The clone is awakened in a Genetek Revival Facility, where they undergo orientation and psychological adjustment.

As described in "Clone," the experience from the revived person's perspective is seamless except for the memory gap:

"Your last memories are of updating your clone at the Genetek Revival Clone Recording Studio two weeks ago. We made a copy of your memories, which we have implanted into your new body."

In Richard Johnson's case, the two-week gap was simply because he had last updated his backup two weeks before his death. The memory gap can be as short as a few hours for those who maintain frequent backups, or as long as months for those who neglect regular updates.

Degenerative Clone Disorder

The most significant limitation of cloning technology is Degenerative Clone Disorder (DCD), a condition that affects clones created from clones. Each generation of cloning introduces subtle genetic errors that accumulate over time, eventually resulting in cellular instability, accelerated aging, and neurological deterioration.

Symptoms of DCD include:

• Memory fragmentation
• Muscle tremors and weakness
• Accelerated aging
• Psychological instability
• Eventually, complete neural collapse

The condition became widely known after several high-profile cases of executives who had been cloned multiple times experienced public breakdowns. Genetek has since implemented strict regulations on the number of consecutive clones that can be created from a single genetic line.

Constant Cloning

The most significant advancement in cloning technology was Emi Tanaka's development of Constant Cloning. This revolutionary approach eliminated the desynchronization problems inherent in traditional cloning by creating a continuous connection between the original person and their clone.

As Emi explained to Richard Johnson:

"It would eliminate the possibility of [desynchronization problems] because of the continuous nature. That's why it's called Constant Cloning."

The technology would allow for real-time memory transfer, meaning that if a person died, their clone would wake up with memories right up to the moment of death, rather than only to their last backup. This would effectively eliminate the memory gap that plagues traditional cloning.

Unfortunately, the technology was stolen before it could be properly implemented, and Emi was assassinated to prevent her from recreating it. The theft of Constant Cloning technology represents one of the most significant corporate espionage cases in Horizon City's history.

Social Impact

Cloning technology has profoundly impacted Horizon City's social structure:

Horizon City vs. Japan

Unlike in Japan, where cloning serves as genuine life insurance with automatic clone activation upon death, in Horizon City it functions as a mechanism for economic exploitation. As explained by a pilot to Emi Tanaka in "Corpie":

"They charge as much as they can for the initial clone but make the memory updates cheap enough to afford to make the initial investment seem palatable. What they don't tell you upfront is if you use your clone, you lose it. After that, you gotta pay the initial clone cost again before you get double tapped."

Genetek's Monopoly

Genetek Revival has exclusive rights to provide cloning services in Horizon City, with two facilities strategically placed on opposite ends of Gold level: the cloning lab where clones are created and stored, and the recording facility where memory updates are performed. This deliberate separation maximizes inconvenience and profit.

Class Division

Access to cloning is strictly controlled by economic status and location. It is only available on Gold level through Genetek Revival's facilities, making it accessible primarily to the wealthy and corporate elite. Those in Red level cannot access cloning services at all, creating a stark division between those who can afford effective immortality and those who cannot.

Legal Status

The legal status of clones has been the subject of extensive litigation. Current law in Horizon City recognizes a clone as the legal continuation of the original person, with all rights, responsibilities, and property transferring to the clone upon revival.

Religious Response

Religious groups have responded differently to cloning technology:

• The Church of the Digital Messiah embraces it as part of humanity's technological transcendence
• Traditional religious groups largely condemn it as unnatural
• New spiritual movements have emerged specifically addressing the theological implications of cloning

Ethical Considerations

Cloning technology raises profound ethical questions that continue to be debated in Horizon City:

• Is a clone truly the same person as the original?
• What happens to the "self" when the original dies and a clone is activated?
• Does the gap in memory between backup and revival represent a fundamental break in continuity?
• How frequently should memory backups be performed to minimize loss?
• Should there be limits on how many times a person can be cloned?

As one Horizon City philosopher noted: "Cloning doesn't cheat death; it merely creates a copy who believes they've cheated death. The original still experiences the end of consciousness."

Despite these philosophical concerns, the practical reality in Horizon City is that those with access to cloning technology consider it essential insurance against mortality, and the clone revival industry continues to grow and develop more advanced techniques.