Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Mirror: "Britain’s first cloned dog has been born after owner Rebecca Smith won a £60,000 contest"

"Winnie, a 12-year-old dachshund, was reproduced as a puppy called “mini Winnie” in a laboratory. The incredible test tube process will give hope for millions of dog owners looking to immortalise their pets in the future."
Rebecca, 29, said: “We Brits do have a close attachment to our dogs, so it is exciting. My sausage dog is very special but she is 12 and not going to be around forever. My boyfriend always joked, ‘We need to get her cloned.’

“Then I read an article about it and there was a competition to get your pet cloned.

“We sent in some videos and it just sort of snowballed from there.” Rebecca, a caterer from West London, travelled from Britain to Seoul, South Korea, and witnessed “mini Winnie” being born on March 30.

Cloning company Sooam Biotech now hopes thousands of other Brits will follow Rebecca’s lead, despite the hefty £60,000 price tag. (read more)

8 comments:

chickelit said...

Two thoughts:

Think of the money and research which could go towards human beings.

All of pet and livestock cloning research will accrue towards inevitable human cloning.

The Dude said...

Animal rescue would be a better place to spend that money.

In Korea they clone dogs that taste good. Obama approves.

chickelit said...

In Korea they clone dogs that taste good. Obama approves.

Would women clone Clooney driven by druthers?

chickelit said...

Or would they become aDept at cloning Johnnies?

The Dude said...

Depends upon whether they like their men to look like men or pirates in drag, I suppose. Ask Titus.

Christy said...

How interesting that this is a company in a non-doggy adoring region targeting doggy-adoring clients half a world away. Excellent business opportunity. For a few brief years. Someone with a better genetics background may know for sure, but don't certain gene characteristics get turned on by environmental factors? And I include nutrition and training as factors. Point is, it won't be the same dog. Maybe close enough if you love dachshund personalities in general, but not enough to support the business model in the long term.

ricpic said...

It's Dog Day at Lem's!

Christy said...

Depp. More outrageously fun to keep around.