Dolly's creators won't copy cats
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.BRITISH RESEARCHERS who cloned Dolly the sheep have turned down requests from dog and cat owners wanting copies of their pets, it was revealed last night.
The news emerged as it was disclosed that a Texan millionaire was paying an American laboratory more than pounds 3m to clone his dog.
Dr Harry Griffin, of the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh - where Dolly the sheep was created - said: "We have not been offered large sums of money, but we certainly have had a number of approaches by people who want to clone their pets. As far as we are concerned we disapprove of going down this road, because it perpetuates the myth that you can re- create an individual through cloning."
An investigation by BBC 2's Newsnight programme last night revealed that the cloning laboratory at Texas A & M University at College Station, has already received cells from the millionaire's collie-Alsatian bitch, called Missy. It has a two-year deadline in which to produce a replica of the animal.
The programme also claimed that a member of the Saudi royal family was recently approached to fund the cloning of race horses - a move which would breach the strict breeding rules of racing.
Dr Griffin said there were good reasons for not attempting to clone people's pets.
He said: "The technology hasn't reached that point, and in order to clone an animal you need a supply of eggs from donor females and surrogate mothers to carry the offspring.
"Certainly in Britain and Europe the animal welfare benefits of cloning a pet would not be sufficient to warrant experimenting on donors and surrogate mothers. Thirdly, this sort of proposal perpetuates the myths about cloning."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments