Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) is a cloning technique where the nucleus of a somatic cell is transferred into an enucleated egg cell, leading to the development of an embryo that is genetically identical to the original organism. This technology is primarily applied in reproductive cloning of animals, such as in the case of Dolly the sheep, enabling the production of a new individual from the somatic cell. The significance of SCNT lies in its potential applications in conservation biology, genetic research, and disease modeling, which are relevant themes for the UPSC Prelims GS Paper I as they connect biotechnology with ethical, ecological, and socio-economic issues.