code: def clone_and_merge_sub(self, key):
          
          new_comp = copy.deepcopy(self)
          #sub_com = self.components[key]
          new_comp.components = None
          new_comp.comp_key = key
          return new_comp
docs: Clones self and merges clone with sub-component specific information
  
          Parameters
          ----------
  
          key : str
              Key specifying which sub-component
  
          Returns `ModelComponentInfo` object