The LATimes reports on a new twist in animal cloning,
Even in the sometimes bizarre world of novelty animal cloning, this case is expected to generate debate and curiosity.
The Northern California cloning firm BioArts Internationalis holding a news conference today to announce that it has cloned a dogthat helped searched for victims in the rubble of New York's WorldTrade Center after 9/11. A retired Canadian police officer, who nowlives in Los Angeles, won a contest sponsored by BioArts explaining whyhis rescue dog, Trakr, should be cloned. He was presented with the fivecloned puppies a few days ago.
"Once in a lifetime, a dog comes along that not only captures thehearts of all he touches but also plays a private role in history," theretired officer, James Symington, wrote in his contest submission.
BioArts said in a statement that it partnered with South Koreancloning specialist Hwang Woo-Suk to clone the German shepherd. Woo-Sukis a controversial cloning pioneer who has been accused of faking human cloning evidence. . . .
[Updated at 7:50 a.m.: Thedebate is already beginning. The American Society for the Prevention ofCruelty to Animals notes its concerns about pet cloning: "Our currentknowledge of animal cloning indicates that there are important welfareconcerns at issue. Reports on the health and condition of mammaliananimals produced by cloning have indicated a variety of anatomical andphysiological problems."]