How much does your DNA change over time? If I were to clone myself 70 years from now, will the clone have the same hair color?

The amount of DNA change over time and its implications on traits like hair color can be understood through several key points:

Mutation Rates

DNA mutations occur at a relatively constant rate per generation, although this rate can vary slightly between different species and even among different populations within a species. For humans, the mutation rate is estimated to be around (1.2 \times 10^{-8}) to (2.5 \times 10^{-8}) mutations per nucleotide per generation3.

Accumulation of Mutations Over Time

Over a period of 70 years, the number of mutations accumulated would be relatively small compared to the entire human genome. However, these mutations can still contribute to genetic diversity and potentially affect traits.

Impact on Traits

For a trait like hair color, which is influenced by multiple genes, the likelihood of a clone having the exact same hair color as the original individual depends on several factors:

• Genetic Stability: Hair color is determined by multiple genetic loci, and small mutations might not significantly alter the overall expression of these genes.
• Epigenetic Factors: Epigenetic changes, which do not alter the DNA sequence itself but affect gene expression, can also influence traits like hair color.

Cloning Considerations

In the context of cloning, if you were to clone yourself 70 years from now using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), the clone would start with the genetic material from your current cells. However, the cloning process itself introduces additional variables:

• Mutations During Cloning: The process of cloning can introduce new mutations due to errors in DNA replication and repair.
• Epigenetic Resetting: Cloning involves reprogramming the somatic cell nucleus to an embryonic state, which can reset some epigenetic marks but may not perfectly replicate the original epigenetic profile.

Given these considerations, while the clone would be genetically very similar to you, there is a small chance that minor genetic or epigenetic differences could result in slight variations in traits, including hair color. However, these differences would likely be minimal, and the clone would generally have the same hair color as you, assuming no significant mutations or epigenetic changes occur during the cloning process.

In summary, the clone would be highly likely to have the same hair color as you, but there is a small possibility of minor variations due to the accumulation of mutations over time and the cloning process itself.