Cloning pets in Shropshire: Europe's unique lab revives beloved animals
- Gemini Genetics in Shropshire, England, is the only lab in Europe offering pet cloning services.
- The cloning process requires tissue samples taken within five days of a pet's death, and the technology has gained popularity among pet owners.
- While cloning can recreate a pet's genetic material, the resulting animal will have different experiences and personalities, raising ethical questions.
In Shropshire, England, a cloning lab named Gemini Genetics is reportedly the only facility in Europe that offers pet cloning services. The process involves taking tissue samples from pets within five days of their death, allowing scientists to extract DNA for cloning. This technology, while still controversial, has gained popularity among pet owners, including celebrities like Barbara Streisand and Simon Cowell, who seek to recreate their beloved animals. The lab also preserves DNA from endangered zoo species as a contingency for future extinction. Despite advancements in cloning technology since the first successful clone, Dolly the sheep, in 1996, cloned pets will not be exact replicas of their originals due to differences in life experiences and personalities. The emotional attachment many owners have to their pets drives the demand for cloning, as some believe it can extend their time with a beloved companion.