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Give a dog a clone: British couple duplicate their dead pooch for $275,000

RICHARD Remde and Laura Jacques were devastated when their pooch died in June. They’ve spent $275,000 to create two more just like him.

Laura Jacques, Richard Remde clone dead dog Dylan. Picture: The Guardian
Laura Jacques, Richard Remde clone dead dog Dylan. Picture: The Guardian

A COUPLE has forked out $275,000 to be the first in Britain to clone their dead dog.

The Sun reports Laura Jacques and Richard Remde were devastated when their Boxer, Dylan, died of a heart attack in June, aged eight.

They enlisted the help of South Korean biotech firm Sooam, which clones dead dogs for £67,000 ($137,000) each.

The pair will collect their two newborn puppies from South Korea on Boxing Day.

British couple ... Laura Jacques and Richard Remde were devastated when Dylan died. Picture: The Guardian
British couple ... Laura Jacques and Richard Remde were devastated when Dylan died. Picture: The Guardian

Laura, of Yorkshire, said Dylan’s death left her “in total shock”.

“I see it as Dylan’s puppies but they will have 100 per cent his DNA — not just 50,” she said.

“There will be people who don’t agree with it, but there will be loads that would love to be able to do it.”

Scientists put Dylan’s DNA into a donor egg which was implanted into a female dog.

He had been dead for 12 days when the couple took a skin sample to the firm, but were warned the technique had never worked from bodies that old.

Dylan’s body has been in the couple’s freezer while they renovated their garden and will be buried later.

Beloved pooch ... Dylan died in June. Picture: The Guardian
Beloved pooch ... Dylan died in June. Picture: The Guardian

This story originally appeared in The Sun.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/give-a-dog-a-clone-british-couple-duplicate-their-dead-pooch-for-275000/news-story/6fa5924c362fd2e7b30783e837155bf3