Jan
The World’s First Commercially Cloned Dog Arrives
BioArts International announced today that they have delivered the world’s first commercially cloned dog, a 10-week old Labrador named Lancey, to Florida residents Edgar and Nina Otto.
“We can’t believe this day is finally here,” said Nina Otto, “We are so happy to have little Lancey in our family. His predecessor was a very special dog. We are thrilled beyond words!”
Lancey was hand delivered to the Ottos on Monday, January 26th by BioArts Chairman Lou Hawthorne. “This is a very special milestone for our company – and great fun for me too,” said Hawthorne, who delivered Lancey personally.
The Ottos were one of five families to bid and win an auction held by BioArts International in July for a chance to clone their family dog. Lancey’s genetic donor, Sir Lancelot, died in January, 2008, and the Ottos had his DNA stored. By October, samples from the original dog were on their way to the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation in Seoul, South Korea, which provides cloning services to BioArts.
Lancey was born on November 18th, 2008, and brought to the US on January 25th, 2009 after being weaned from his surrogate mother.
The Ottos, longtime residents of Boca Raton, have had many beloved dogs over the years, but Lancey’s genetic donor was unique. “Sir Lancelot was the most human of any dog we’ve ever had,” said Otto, “He was a prince among dogs.”
Said Hawthorne, “One minute with Lancey and you know he’s special. He’s both extremely aware and very sweet. The Ottos are the first of six current clients to receive their clone. The next 6 months will be very exciting both for our clients and our staff.”
Additional information about the Best Friends Again program and dog cloning is available at www.bestfriendsagain.com. More information about BioArts is available at www.bioarts.com.
BioArts International is a biotech company focused on unique, untapped markets in the global companion animal, stem cell and human genomics industries. The Best Friends Again program is a collaboration between BioArts and the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation in South Korea, home to the best and most experienced dog cloning team in the world.
BioArts has been granted the sole, worldwide license for the cloning of dogs, cats and endangered species. The license was granted by Start Licensing, Inc. and applies to the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) cloning patents developed at the Roslin Institute for the cloning of Dolly the sheep.
£100,000 for a Labrador, why not donate it to a dog charity instead to help dogs?
I am totally disgusted by this. People are losing their homes and jobs and can't afford to feed their children and this couple has the audacity to spend $150,000 on a dog?? I love animals but this is extravagance gone wild. They should be ashamed of themselves. Try looking a starving child in the face and tell them you blew that money. Greed and luxury do not get you into heaven. Charity does and this couple shouldn't be just throwing their money around on really ridiculus stuff like this. I hope the dog gets hit by a car.
Carol, you can't be serious — you hope the dog gets hit by a car? Why should the poor dog be the one to suffer for its owner's stupidity? The dog didn't ask to be born, it is purely innocent in this. No matter how you feel about the situation, please don't blame it on the dog and wish suffering on it. This situation is sad enough.