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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Fido's Clone Just Ain't Fido

Doggie behavior, physical traits can differ

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(Newser) – Lou Hawthorne's canine cloning business is well on its way—with clients paying upwards of $130,000 to duplicate their pets—but the copies of his own beloved family dog have hardly replaced her. Clones Mira and MissyToo vary in size and color, and Hawthorne's mother—keeper of the original Missy, now deceased—refuses to keep the genetic offspring, saying they lack the donor's robust calm.

Variances can show up during cloning, which combines the original dog's DNA and a DNA-stripped embryo of another dog inside a third dog's uterus. Also, many of the beloved characteristics of highly trainable pets come from nurture, not nature—and can't be copied. Still optimistic, the owner of a cloned Labrador says, "Cloning means you could have the same dog with you for your entire life."

The world's first cloned dog Snuppy, bottom, stands beside one of its puppies at Seoul National University's College of Veterinary Medicine in South Korea last September. Snuppy has become a father.
The world's first cloned dog Snuppy, bottom, stands beside one of its puppies at Seoul National University's College of Veterinary Medicine in South Korea last September. Snuppy has become a father.   (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Bernann McKinney holds one of five cloned pit bull puppies during her first meeting with them in Seoul. She received five baby dogs, copies of her beloved late pit bull Booger.
Bernann McKinney holds one of five cloned pit bull puppies during her first meeting with them in Seoul. She received five baby dogs, copies of her beloved late pit bull Booger.   (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Hawthorne poses with dogs cloned from his family pet on May 3, 2008 in Mill Valley, Calif.
Hawthorne poses with dogs cloned from his family pet on May 3, 2008 in Mill Valley, Calif.   (AP Photo/BioArts International)
Five cloned dogs, sharing the same name:
Five cloned dogs, sharing the same name: "Toppy" play with a ball during their exercise at Defector Dog Training Center in Incheon, west of Seoul.   (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)
This graphic explains how a dog will be cloned in the world's first-ever private canine cloning system.
This graphic explains how a dog will be cloned in the world's first-ever private canine cloning system.   (Associated Press)
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"I've never met a dog I couldn't clone," Hawthorne says.   (depe2002)

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3 comments
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tommy
Jan 1, 09 3:59 PM CST
Part of life is the unexpected. I think we are trying to be to comfortable. To me part of the excitement of a new pet is to watch them develop their own personalities and traits. <2buyitnow.com> Reply
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Antiks
Sep 1, 09 7:43 AM CDT
until it starts shitting all over the carpet.
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riffran
Jan 3, 09 10:24 PM CST
you know where this is going....".I lost My wife to cancer 3 years ago I had her genetic material stored on file before she found the tumor, I wish to activate the clone...and this time make her a better cook"....lol....riff Reply
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