Can I Clone My Pet Dog?
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Remember when Dolly the sheep was cloned?
Since then, and with much less fanfare, many dogs have had genetic twin!
Yeah it's a real thing ...
In fact, not so long ago Barbara Streisand had cloned two of her dogs.
The costs:
$ 50,000 each. Ouch!
So it's unrealistic for most people. Currently, pet cloning is only within reach for the rich.
Although controversial and expensive, your dog can be cloned
The trial first took place on a pet cat in 2001. It wasn't until 2o05 that a dog was genetically copied.
Are you looking for advice on how to do this with your dog?
Here is the first thing you should do now:
Cloning must be planned well in advance - while your dog is still alive.
A key to the process
It is very likely too late to make a clone if your dog has already died.
Immediately after death, you would need to cool (not freeze) your dog's body.
Living tissue is essential for cloning.
While hair and teeth also contain DNA, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) doesn't work that way.
Genetic preservation
If you are really serious about cloning your dog then you need to think about preserving the genetics.
Is a furry friend get up in old age?
Act sooner than later.
The first step in the process requires a biopsy.
A veterinarian receives a tissue sample. This is how new dog cells are eventually cultivated.
What's pretty cool is that once the DNA is frozen (cryopreserved) you can choose exactly when to clone your dog.
Fascinating FAQs
Cloned puppies are usually delivered as natural birth through a surrogate dog.
Your new pup will be the same gender as the original loved one.
The cloning process is by far the most common in South Korea. The US has companies that do that too.
Assuming there's no waiting list, you could have a new copycat in a few months!
Not quite the same
One more thing to consider ...
Cloning does not mean you will get an exact replica of your dog.
That would be impossible!
Just as identical twins have different personalities, a cloned dog has unique quirks. The physical appearance of your new pet can also vary significantly.
I know what you're thinking!
How do you know if you really get a real clone of your sweet and Smart dog?
The answer:
Get an independent DNA sample analysis that compares the genetics of the two dogs.
Are there any disadvantages?
Animal rights groups argue that cloning involves suffering.
Transplanting an embryo into another dog's womb raises ethical questions. The initial biopsy itself is viewed as cruel by clone critics, too.
Before you proceed, research these contentious questions.
It's an important decision.
Of course you love your pet. But maybe adopt a dog that was gave away is a more thoughtful alternative.
The bottom line
Your dog can be cloned if you have the funds.
Genetic engineering is cutting edge, although a great ethical debate may never be settled.
One thing is absolutely certain:
Cloning man's best friend, a beloved dog, is a big personal decision. Think about it for a while!
What do you think? Say something below ...
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