Celebrity Cloned Dog: The Science and Emotion Behind It

Imagine having a beloved pet that never gets old, never gets sick, and always stays by your side. That's the reality for the family of Trakr, a Labrador Retriever cloned from a deceased search and rescue dog.

Trakr's cloning process was a groundbreaking achievement in 2007, marking the first time a dog had been cloned from adult DNA. This breakthrough was made possible by a team of scientists at ViaGen Pets, who used a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).

The cloning process involves taking a cell from the adult dog, removing its nucleus, and replacing it with the nucleus from an egg cell. This egg cell is then stimulated to divide and grow into an embryo, which is eventually implanted into a surrogate mother.

Take a look at this: First Cloned Dog

Cloning a dog is a complex process that involves several steps. The first step is to collect a DNA sample from the dog's cells, which can be obtained from a cheek swab or a blood sample.

The DNA is then extracted and used to create an embryo, which is implanted into a surrogate mother. The surrogate mother is a female dog that is not related to the cloned dog.

The cloned dog's genetic makeup is identical to the original dog's, but the clone's development is not guaranteed. In fact, only about 30% of cloned dog embryos are successful.

The cloning process is still in its early stages, and it's a costly and time-consuming process. The cost of cloning a dog can range from $50,000 to $100,000 or more.

Consider reading: How Does Dog Cloning Work