Labrador puppy Lancelot Encore is an exact genetic replica of his owner's previous pet.
A couple from Boca Raton, Florida, have this week welcomed the first commercially cloned dog into their home – at the eye-watering cost of $155,000.
Lancelot Encore, or ‘Lancey’ as he, and his predecessor are fondly known, is a 10 week old yellow Labrador puppy and an exact genetic replica of Nina and Edgar Otto’s old dog, ‘Sir Lancelot’.
The couple won the chance to clone their family dog at auction in July last year, seven months after losing ‘Lancey’ mark one to cancer. Amazingly the couple had the foresight to store samples of Sir Lancelot’s DNA five years ago in the hope that cloning technology would one day be readily available to those willing to pay.
"We can't believe this day is finally here," said Mrs Otto to the press, "We are so happy to have little Lancey in our family. His predecessor was a very special dog. We are thrilled beyond words!"
After being ‘created’ in South Korea by biotech company BioArts International and weaned by a surrogate mother, Lancelot Encore was delivered personally to the Ottos at Miami International Airport by BioArts Chairman, Lou Hawthorne, on Monday evening.
"This is a very special milestone for our company – and great fun for me too," Hawthorne said.
”One minute with Lancey and you know he's special. He's both extremely aware and very sweet. The Ottos are the first of six current clients to receive their clone. The next 6 months will be very exciting both for our clients and our staff."
Lancelot Encore is believed to be the first single-born, commercially cloned puppy in the States. Yet, while the Ottos are undoubtedly delighted with their new pup, his creation has sparked huge controversy, not least because of all the puppies sitting unwanted in dog shelters across the States.
However, so as to make amends, Nina and Edgar, who reportedly already have 9 dogs, 10 cats, 6 sheep and 4 parrots, also plan to adopt a dog from a shelter too.
