South Korean Researchers Clone a Dog

South Korean cloning researcher Woo Suk Hwang has announced the successful cloning of an Afghan Hound. "Snuppy" (the name comes from Seoul National University puppy) is the product of 1,095 eggs with the DNA of a three-year-old Afghan, transferred into 123 surrogate mothers. Of the three pregnancies that resulted, only Snuppy survived.

Happy family: Snuppy (center),
with Dad (left) and Mom (right)

This news will surely pique the interest of pet lovers looking to reproduce beloved canine companions. Gerald Schatten of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine says not to look to his facility to do the work. “We are not in the business of cloning pets,” he says. “We perform nuclear transfer for medical research.” But where there are potential customers willing to pay big bucks for a service, look for someone to fill that need.

Source: New Scientist