S Korea trains sniffer-dog clones


The world's first cloned sniffer dogs have begun training in South Korea.

Seven puppies have been created using cells taken from a labrador considered by customs officials to be their best sniffer dog.
The puppies were born last year after the country's customs service paid a biotechnology company to reproduce a Canadian Labrador Retriever.
Their handlers say they are already showing the same high level of skill as the original dog.
Only about 30% of naturally-born sniffer dogs make the grade, but South Korean scientists believe that could rise to 90% using the cloning method.
The puppies were born to three surrogate mothers after scientists used the nuclei of somatic cells from a sniffer dog called Chase. The state-funded project cost about 300m won ($300,000; £150,000).
A spokesman for South Korean customs said the pups have passed the first round of tests for behavioural patterns and genetic qualities and will report for duty in June after completing a second round of training.



Story from BBC NEWS:
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | S Korea trains sniffer-dog clones

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So did S Korean have a cloning debate? Is there an article on whether it is wrong or right? If there was a debate was it religious and scientifically based or some other side that has a strong opinion on the issue of cloning?

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I just can't help myself. Risk it all with me.

Not sure if there is specifically an article on that but there was a S. Korean scientist awhile back who was charged with falsifying cloning reports and experiments. I will check to see if there was such a debate...

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I am all for cloning. By the way, those dogs looks adorable.

The only big debate is in this article about a S. Korean research scientist for falsifying cloning experiment results.. I think the debate is more on how fast Korea can beat the US in stem cell cloning rather than the ethics itself..

Professional Ethics | Lead Korean Cloning Researcher Resigns in Ethics Scandal

indeed. and why the canadian lab? i thot all labs are the same and not country specific. like a shepherd in germany is no diff than one in the US.

So cute! Labs are my favorite sporting breed.