First cloned pet delivered by a US company

The first cloned-to-order pet has been delivered by a US company, reigniting debate over the ethics of commercial
cloning.


The 9-week-old kitten, named Little Nicky, was cloned for a woman in Texas, to replace a 17-year-old pet cat called Nicky,
which died in 2003. She paid for $50,000 for her new pet.


But experts warn that cloning will never produce a perfect replica of any animal is also associated with health problems in
later life. US Animal welfare groups have also criticised pet cloning, noting that that thousands of unwanted cats and dogs
have to be euthanised every year.


Little Nicky was cloned by Genetic Savings and Clone, based in Sausalito, California, US, which produced the first ever clone
of a domestic cat in December 2001. The company hopes to have produced a cloned-to-order dog by May 2005.


Scientists have cloned many different animals in the laboratory, including sheep, rabbits, goats, pigs and horses. Prized
cattle can also be cloned-to-order for around $20,000 each. But Little Nicky is the first clone to be sold as a pet and could
mark the start of a lucrative business………..
CONTINUES……….newscientist