Scientists in South Korea have produced the first dog clones, they report in Nature magazine this week. One of the puppies died soon after birth but the other, an Afghan hound named Snuppy, is still doing well after 16 weeks, the researchers say.
Snuppy joins a host of other cloned animals including Dolly the sheep, CC the cat and Ralph the rat.Scientists hope dog clones will help them understand and treat a range of serious human diseases.
Yes, sure. Any bets how long it will take until there is a human clone? 5 years?
no doubt they’re already trying.
Isn’t it rich? Are we a pair?
Me here at last on the ground, you in mid-air.
Send in the clones.
Isn’t it bliss? Don’t you approve?
One who keeps tearing around,
One who can’t move.
Where are the clones?
Send in the clones.
…
Maybe “Babs” will re-record that one with my improved lyrics! ;-)
I think we will see a very strange and interesting future. First you clone humans then somebody gets the idea to go around digging up historical figures for DNA samples… Hey, Einstein’s brain is still preserved somewhere! But that might not be half as interesting as the blood on The Shroud of Turin!
OK, sorry, didn’t mean to creep anybody out!
Victor, love the lyrics! You should copyright them ASAP. :-) By the way, I wasn’t freaked out by your post. I have a medical background and I’ve fondled human brains before, among other things.
I heard a couple of years ago that South Korean scientists were successful in cloning human embryos but they destroyed them before they had a chance to grow. However, as the media pointed out, they could have been lying about it because they didn’t have any evidence to back it up. Note to self: Don’t destroy evidence before you have a chance to prove what you accomplished.
Interesting article. I have to wonder how experimenting on dogs will help scientists treat human diseases. I think they’re doing it for the grant money. I’m personally not for cloning because I believe that although the cloned animals and humans may share the same DNA, each person and animal has their own spirit, which makes them individuals, regardless of whose DNA they carry. But oh well, to each his clone.
How do we know it hasn’t happened already?
Gee, just think. Then the world won’t have to make new people the old-fashioned way.
victor: you are too funny!
mel: “fondled human brains”? now that’s creepy.
carol: that would be very sad.
Actually, I find it fascinating to hold someone else’s brain. I know, the thought sounds creepy, but it makes you wonder about the person who owned the brain, such as what they looked like, what their hopes and aspirations were, if they had a family, etc. I suppose it would be similar to the reaction an Archeologist who was studying human bones.
mel, there was an article in national geographic eons ago that always stuck with me. it talked about memory and personality. as much as we think our personality is unique and the only one we’re capable of “owning” apparently amnesia victims who never regain their past memories will actually develop completely different personalities, different likes, dislikes, etc. so it raises the question: could we be different than who we are? how much of our personality is inherent in our brain and how much is affected by environment.
The article sounds interesting. Interesting that you should bring that up because I was just at a meeting yesterday evening and we were talking about that very thing. I believe that much of our personality is shaped by our environment. For example, a kid who grows up in an abusive environment might be withdrawn and depressed, but if he or she is able to go through a healing process, his or her real personality can emerge, which may be totally different than what it was before the healing process took place. However, we still have inherant traits that affect our personality somewhat, like say, a kid who was adopted and has musical talent and a desire to be a musician, whereas his or her adopted family has no musical talent. But again, I do believe that environment plays a huge role in shaping our personalities, and we can change them if we desire. I’m glad you brought that up. :-)