Cloning Goes Beyond the Rich and Famous: From Pets to Purpose

Tom Brady's announcement that his dog Junie is a clone of Lua, a pit bull mix that died in 2023, has brought attention to the cloning technology used by celebrities like Paris Hilton and Barbra Streisand for their pet dogs. However, cloning technologies are being used for more than just pampered pooches of the rich and famous. They are also being used to diversify the genetic pools of inbred species and potentially bring other animals back from the brink of extinction. According to Dr. Ian Wilmut, the scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep in the 1990s, cloning itself is not new. "The technology has been used in livestock breeding over the decades since," he said. "We can take some of the animal's cells, freeze them, and store them in a biobank. That opens the option to clone them in the future." This process allows scientists to create genetic twins, essentially replicating valuable animals such as large bulls or cows with high milk yields. The use of cloning in livestock breeding has been a long-standing practice. "We can selectively breed for certain characteristics, or we can clone the original animal," said Dr. Wilmut. "It's a way to preserve genetic material and ensure that we don't lose valuable traits." This is particularly important for species that are inbred or on the brink of extinction. In addition to its practical applications, cloning is also being used to bring back extinct species. "We're not just talking about cloning animals that are alive today, but also those that are extinct," said Dr. George Church, a geneticist at Harvard University. "We're working on cloning the woolly mammoth, which could potentially help us understand more about the evolution of these animals and how they adapted to their environments." The cloning of Junie, Tom Brady's dog, may have brought attention to the technology, but it's not the only example of its use. "Cloning is not just for celebrities," said Dr. Church. "It's a powerful tool that can be used for conservation, agriculture, and even medicine." As the technology continues to evolve, it's likely that we'll see more examples of its use in a variety of fields. In the meantime, the cloning of Junie serves as a reminder of the potential of this technology. While it may be used by celebrities to clone their pet dogs, it's also being used to make a real difference in the world. As Dr. Wilmut noted, "Cloning is not just about creating copies of animals, it's about preserving genetic material and ensuring that we don't lose valuable traits."