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| Genetic Savings and Clone World's first dog cloning company | ||||
A rather run of the mill sheep named Dolly made the front pages a few years ago when veterinary researchers Ian Wilmut and colleagues at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland cloned the first mammal from genetic material extracted from an adult cell of the same species. The achievement resulted from transferring the nuclei from sheep cells into unfertilized sheep eggs from which the normal nuclei that had been removed through a microsurgery technique. The recipient eggs now contained a complete set of genes from the donor. The eggs were then cultured and implanted into a sheep that carried them to term. The resulting lamb was an exact genetic copy or clone. This important experiment shattered a belief prevalent among biologists that cells from adult mammals cannot be used to regenerate a new animal.
Dolly the sheep was hardly a companion animal, but that was soon to change. The Missiplicity Project, located at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at Texas A&M University, was named after the beloved dog of an anonymous San Francisco Bay area billionaire who funded it. The billionaire's dog named Missy is getting on in years and her wealthy human caregiver(s) wish to reproduce her, or at least create her genetic duplicate. See www.missyplicity.com for more information on Missy. An exclusive report by Charles Graeber in the March issue of Wired magazine reports the project to be "at the forefront of canine reproductive technology." Graeber writes, "In understanding the cloning project, team Missiplicity had to amass an understanding of canine biology far more comprehensive than dog breeders or vets have ever possessed." Although a cloned puppy has yet to be whelped, Wired reports that the scientists feel confident that it can be done successfully very soon. In fact, they have even launched the world's first dog cloning company. A visit to their web site at www.savingsandloan.com reveals a DNA storage bank that is open for business. "Gene banking," states Genetic Savings and Loan (GSC), "means the long-term storage of cellular DNA, for use in cloning, verifying parentage, treating diseases, and other purposes. We'll help your veterinarian obtain small tissue samples from your animal, which we'll then specially prepare and store in liquid nitrogen, where they can safely remain indefinitely." GSC currently has two active divisions: Pets and Livestock. "Soon we'll add divisions for Wildlife & Endangered Species, and Assistance & Rescue Dogs," says CSC. "Regardless of whether the animal in your care is a champion bull, a rare white tiger, or a beloved mutt, GSC is the safest place to store its DNA." Moreover, what do family veterinarians think about this project? "It's pretty wild," said Dr. Larry Cohen, a veterinarian and guest co-host on the Saturday afternoon radio talk show It's About Animals on NewsTalk 1050 WEVD in New York City. "I'm not surprised that somebody came along and did and I'm anxious to see how it all turns out. I'm not sure they'll get the same dog. I suppose if I had a billion dollars I'd want to clone my dog Willie." GSC boasts "some of the best minds available in animal and cellular science." Welcome to your friendly neighborhood doggie gene bank! Bob DeFranco is an animal behavior therapist, executive director of the Animal Behavior Center of New York and president of the American Foundation for Animal Rescue, Inc. in Queens. Watch him on Pet Talk Live, Wednesdays at 8:30 PM on Channel 34 in Queens and listen to him on the new radio talk show It's About Animals on NewsTalk 1050 WEVD AM on Saturdays at 5:00 PM. Questions or comments? Write P.O. Box 7623, Rego Park, NY 11374 or e-mail him at: bob@canines.com |
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