Cloned Dog Snuppy to Become Father
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Snuppy, the world's first cloned dog, will be a father next month after two female dogs were artificially inseminated.
If the puppies are born, it will mark the world's first ``natural'' breeding by cloned dogs.
Seoul National University's research team led by veterinary professor Lee Byung-chun said Thursday that they succeeded in artificially inseminating the three-year-old Snuppy's sperm into the ova of two female cloned Afgan hounds, Bona and Hope. The two two-year-old dogs were discovered to be pregnant on March 16 and 20, respectively.
A researcher said that ultrasound showed the fetuses' size and condition seemed to be normal. The team will be able to know the exact number of fetuses early next month. The puppies are expected to be born on May 16 and 20, respectively.
This is the first time for cloned male and female dogs to reproduce, and if Bona and Hope give birth to puppies normally, it will prove cloned dogs' reproductive power.
``The second generation of cloned animals used to be malformed, but we have not found any abnormal aspects about the fetuses so far. The experiment will prove cloned dogs can breed normally,'' Lee said.
After the puppies are born, the team will publish the experimental papers on the procedure and result. The puppies will also be used for research on cloned dogs.
As a dog has similar genes to human, the study is expected to help in work to cure fatal diseases and also the preservation of endangered species. Breeding animals with specific talents, such as seeing-eye-dogs, will also be possible, Lee said.