jacquispeel@netscape.net wrote:
Clones are not necessarily 'born' at the same time - as with some current
fertilisation process where the eggs from one batch are 'developed' at different stages.
It could also be done as a sort of insurance policy. If in vitro fertilization/pregnancy is the norm, they could split up every to-be-planted embryo at the 8 cell stage and freeze the extras. The remaining copies could be used in case some non-genetic-caused mishap befalls the developing embryo or the child gets killed in an accident at a very young age.
And if there is any sort of eugenic ambitions in that society, having exact copies on tap would be advantageous since you can check out how the prototype turns out. If child X32f45rt turns out to be excellent in some desired traits (telepathy?) you could allow the remaining copies be adopted by parents who carry genetic diseases or whatever. If you spread the births out with a few years between them and in different cities, the children are unlikely to run into "themselves" and suffer any psychological distress on that account.
Susan Beth (susanbeth33@mindspring.com)