South Korean Scientists Clone Dog 404
Ebon Praetor writes "According to the BBC and Reuters, South Korean scientists have created the world's first cloned dog, an Afghan hound. The research purpose of the research is ostensibly to produce research animals and not for commercial purposes. Dogs are especially difficult to clone, but the scientists were able to extract DNA from a skin cell, inject it into an egg, and implant the egg into a surrogate mother."
Allow me to have a Bob Barker moment here... (Score:5, Insightful)
People, please spay or neuter your pets and don't allow your ego to perpetuate the suffering of homeless cats and dogs.
Cloning, breeding, who cares (Score:5, Insightful)
But the KC does things like register particular breeds of dogs which, due to their popularity, have been improperly bred so that they develop a wide variety of health problems. Some breeds are even prone to genetic disorders even if they aren't inbred. So doesn't promoting the breeding of these susceptible dog breeds detract from the lives of those dogs?
And besides that, there are so many dogs out there that are euthanized because nobody can find homes for them. Doesn't intentionally breeding more dogs in such an environment make life worse (as in, dead) for the dogs that get euthanized?
Yes, I think that cloning animals to be pets is a bad idea, but aside from the multitude of failed clones, I don't get how that's any worse than breeding them. And at least the cloning scientists have a goal of improving the state of medicine for humans.
Re:Cloned dogs for medical purposes? (Score:3, Insightful)
With clones, you can inuduce cancer in multiple animals, and give half a drug. The non-treated animals are now a perfect control group.
Re:Allow me to have a Bob Barker moment here... (Score:3, Insightful)
This is a good point but also there are the health implications to consider, unless a animal (dog/cat in this instance) is bred correctly, it can lead to genetic defects and other health problems.
AKC breeds have to meet a certain standard to get papaers and before they are sold (depnding on the breed) they have to be medically screened for certian genetic traits... for example, our family bought a Golden labrador, they have a genetic disposition towards hip problems, our dog was screened and everything looked ok (the breeder has also been breeding for a number of years, had award winning dogs, and knew his job), so far so good, great dog, everyone is happy...
A friend of mine also got a labrador, but it wasn't from a reputable breeder and it turns out the dog has a bad hip, now the family loves their dog but they have to watch it suffer in pain and have had numerous medical bills to try and help the dog (it is only 4 years old at this point).
So getting mad at people who buy dogs from breeders is just being ill-informed...
Re:Off-color joke: (Score:1, Insightful)
There are those breeders who should be supported (Score:4, Insightful)
The good breeders promote their breeds by ensuring only the good representatives of the breed are bred. They usually sell their dogs in two classes, show and pet. Show class dogs are show no signs of defect, injury, or disease. They are splendid examples of their breed and will help to keep the breed useful and defect free. Pet quality dogs are usually those whom the breeder to be healthy animals yet not posses the best qualities representative of the breed. They are sold on the condition that they are to be spayed or neutured. Their registration actually prevents unscrupulous buyers from registering litters produced by them.
The good effect of cloning is that by advancements in the procedures it may be possible to eliminate some defects that show up in various types of animals thereby improving the breeds.
I am all for control of the pet population but it is just as selfish to condemn all breeders and sellers as it is to ignore the problem out there. Quite a few states PERMIT puppy-mills (Misourri is one). I am all for shutting down those places and the businesses that use them.
Re:Allow me to have a Bob Barker moment here... (Score:2, Insightful)
So, just like you'll never understand how I can spend so much on an animal, I'll never understand how you could spend so much on a person, if in fact you would do so.
Re:Allow me to have a Bob Barker moment here... (Score:3, Insightful)
People, please spay yourselves and don't allow your ego to perpetuate the suffering of homeless children.
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Soylent Green is DOGGGGGGGGGG (Score:3, Insightful)
#1 Koreans used to treat dogs terribly, since they are increadibly loyal beating them is rather unseemly.
#2 People's pets were often stolen for the cooking pot... not pleasant.