Posts tagged "trakr"

BioArts Pet Cloning Company to Discontinue Cloning Services

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Sep 21st 2009 9:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Pets News

The company that cloned Trakr, the 9/11 search and rescue dog, has decided to stop duplicating dogs. Photo: AP

After delivering healthy cloned dogs to five clients, BioArts International has decided to discontinue their cloning practice.

We first reported on BioArts when Trakr, a heroic 9/11 search and rescue dog, was cloned after his owner won BioArts' Best Friends Again contest. Since then, however, several problems have become apparent, which CEO Lou Hawthorne outlined in a company press release.

Hawthorne reveals that the pet cloning market is even tinier and more specialized than he assumed. Although he spent over 10 years studying animal cloning and knew the subject was controversial, he was surprised at the number of people who refused to clone a pet even if the price was zero. With demand so low, it was impossible for BioArts to keep prices low enough for people to even consider having their beloved cloned.

A larger problem is the unlicensed competition. Though BioArts possesses a license to clone dogs (which they hoped would protect their technology), it's proven to be largely pointless, as other companies, notably RNL Bio, plan to offer the same cloning services at a discounted price and without paying the license. The company that holds BioArts' license has yet to go after unlicensed cloners, leading to a relatively free cloning market.

This brings up another issue -- ethics.

According to Hawthorne's statement, "[T]here is no technical way that RNL can deliver clones for $30,000 (an 80 percent price cut) unless they completely abandon all bioethical safeguards for surrogate mothers who carry the clones to term."

Concern for the surrogates is just one side of this sad story as there's also concern over what is done with the clones with physical anomalies that make them "undeliverable."

Hawthorne listed some of these anomalies in his statement (skip over this if you're squeamish and continue after the jump):

9/11 Search and Rescue Dog Lives on in Five Clones

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Jun 19th 2009 12:00PM Filed Under: Dogs

Trakr lives on in five cloned pups. Photo: AP

Trakr, a German Shepherd who died in April at the age of 16 from a degenerative brain disease, will live on in more than just his owner's memories. BioArts International has produced five genetic clones of the heroic dog.

So, why Trakr? Truth be told, he was an incredibly special dog. According to the NY Daily News, he and his owner, James Symington, were among the first K-9 teams at Ground Zero on September 11. They helped to locate the final human survivor, trapped beneath 30 feet of unstable debris.

Symington entered and won BioArts' Best Friends Again contest. In his essay, Symington wrote, "Once in a lifetime, a dog comes along that not only captures the hearts of all he touches but also plays a private role in history."

BioArts CEO, Lou Hawthorne, said, "Trakr's story blew us away."

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Camouflage Animals

Madagascar Day Gecko
The green Madagascar Day Gecko lives in the dry regions of forests in Madagascar and neighboring islands. They usually grow to be between four to six inches long. Their tail makes up almost half of their length.

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Camouflage Animals

Argentine Horned Frog Reptiles
The Argentine Horned Frog, also known as the Horned Frog or Pacman Frog, originated in South America. The green and black amphibian, which can grow up to six inches long, is a popular pets and can live for as long as 10 years.

Camouflage Animals

Walkingstick
The Walkingstick takes its camouflage abilities to the next level by creating the appearance of a stick or twig to hide from predators. While they normally stand still, these insects are able to walk around as though they were a twig caught in the wind. They can be found in tropical forests or woodlands all across the world.

Camouflage Animals

Dwarf Puff Adder
Found in Nambia, the venomous Dwarf Puff Adder hides from the hot desert sun by burying itself in the sand, where only its eyes show.

Camouflage Animals

Stonefish
Often resembling a rock, the brown colored Stonefish camouflages itself perfectly in the ocean. With 13 venomous dorsal spines on its back, the Stonefish can cause tissue damage and respiratory distress, which can lead to cardiovascular shock if left untreated.

Camouflage Animals

Chameleons
Chameleons, the quintessential color-changers, can transform their skin color when their mood, temperature or the amount of light around them is altered. Their hue, which can vary from yellow and pink to brown and black, is also altered when they communicate.

Camouflage Animals

Green Anole
Often confused with chameleons, Green Anoles turn brown when they're stressed or sick. Found in the trees and shrubs of the Southeastern United States, these lizards are popular pets.

Camouflage Animals

The Eastern Wood Frog
The Eastern Wood Frog tricks competitors by changing colors to match its surroundings. Found in North American woodlands, the frog also has a dark black patch from its eye to the base of its front limb that can change colors.

Camouflage Animals