Pets just don’t live long enough. We invest time, emotion, energy, and significant financial resources in caring for them, all while knowing we will invariably outlive them. With the advent of cloning technologies, a growing number of individuals are exploring the possibility of creating genetic copies of their beloved animals.
The Rise of Pet Cloning
When Dolly the sheep was born in 1997, it marked a major breakthrough in mammalian cloning. Since then, cloning has become a lucrative industry. Celebrities such as former American footballer Tom Brady and actress Barbra Streisand have reportedly cloned their pet dogs, prompting many pet owners to wonder if their cherished companions could be immortalised too. Creating copies of special pets might seem like a way to preserve the deep bond between human and animal, especially given the devastating impact of loss. But is pet cloning a good idea?
How Cloning Works
The basic principle of cloning is to produce an exact genetic replica of an organism. Just as identical twins share the same genetic profile, animal clones are genetically identical to the “parent” from which the genetic material is obtained. The process is called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Genetic material is removed from the nucleus of a single cell and transferred into an egg cell that has had its nucleus removed. Under the right conditions, that egg can develop into a new organism—the clone. For pet clones, the treated egg must be transferred into a surrogate female, who carries and gives birth to the fully developed clone.
Low Success Rates
Although biologists have experimented with cloning for over a century, success has been slow. Even today, animal cloning only has a success rate of around 16 per cent. The first vertebrate cloned was the African clawed frog in the early 1960s. Since then, a range of species including mice, ferrets, sheep, horses, dogs, cattle, and cats have been successfully cloned.
Why Your Clone Won’t Be Identical
While clones are genetically identical, an individual animal’s behaviour cannot be replicated. Although certain breeds may share common traits, personality is also shaped by life experiences and environmental exposures, which affect how genes function. Unless you can recreate exactly the same maternal influences, upbringing, routines, and living conditions, your cloned pet is unlikely to behave exactly like the original. Even physical appearance can differ due to how genes are expressed. For example, the genetic donor for the first cloned cat, “CC,” was a calico, but the clone had a brown coat.
Ethical Considerations
Pet cloning raises significant ethical issues. Our pets cannot consent to their genetic material being recovered before or after death for cloning. If tissue samples are taken from a living pet for future cloning, this may cause pain and distress, along with the financial burden of monthly storage fees for cryogenic preservation. While cloning might support conservation efforts for endangered species or agricultural production of valuable animals, the same does not apply to pets.
Impact on Surrogate Mothers
The SCNT process involves harvesting eggs from female animals, which can be invasive, requiring hormone treatment and surgery. Pregnancy and birth can be problematic for surrogate mothers, with pregnancy loss, birth abnormalities, and offspring loss relatively common, although this also occurs with natural reproduction. The care and welfare of egg donors and surrogate females require careful consideration throughout the cloning process.
Health Risks for Clones
There are potential health issues for cloned animals. One study found that 48 per cent of cloned piglets died within the first month of life, and cattle clones have experienced musculoskeletal issues, including lameness and tendon problems. Some early evidence suggested an increased risk of early osteoarthritis, but more recent studies indicate this might not be the case. As clones become more numerous, our understanding of their health will improve, but much remains unknown. If your pet had any genetic diseases or increased disease risk due to genetics, clones will inherit these as well. Careful consideration is needed for long-term animal wellbeing.
Cost and Alternatives
Cost is a significant concern, with cloning typically costing upwards of US$50,000 (£37,836). This money could instead benefit the pet population more broadly, including animals in shelters seeking loving homes. In the UK, pet cloning is not currently permitted commercially, viewed as a form of animal experimentation. However, tissue samples can be recovered from the donor and processed with overseas laboratories if your budget allows.
Our pets are important family members. Cloning might seem like the perfect way to keep them in our lives longer, but given the challenges and potential concerns, we would be better off devoting time, money, and emotional energy into making their time with us as happy and memorable as possible. This is often the best legacy of a much-loved pet.
