What is Pet Cloning?

Pet cloning is a scientific process in which a new animal can be created that has the same nuclear DNA as an existing pet. The most common method is through the use of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Pet cloning uses the cells of one animal to create a genetic clone. While a genetic clone will have similar features, it is not an exact replica (in the same way that twins may not look the same despite having the same genetic code.) Even cloned littermates can look different.

The typical process for pet cloning is as follows:

1. The pet owner has a biopsy performed to preserve the pet's tissue/cells. This can be done while the animal is alive or shortly after death.

2. Those cells will be stored by companies in the industry.

3. When the customer pays for the cloning process to begin (usually requiring half of the payment upfront), scientists will take one of the pet's cells and replace the nucleus of a female dog/cat's egg (depending on what type of animal it is.)

4. The egg and the cell will join together and create an embryo.

5. Scientists will then implant this embryo into a surrogate animal. They will often implant multiple embryos in hopes that at least one will result in a full pregnancy.

6. If the embryo takes to the surrogate, an ordinary pregnancy with an ordinary gestation period will occur.

7. The surrogate will give birth to the clone.

Over the past decade, the commercial pet cloning industry has grown significantly in the United States. Prior to 2015, Americans would typically need to look to South Korea or other foreign companies to have their pets cloned. Now, cloning can regularly be done in the United States, though it still involves the use of several animals for egg harvesting and for surrogacy in order to produce a clone.