October 11th 2024.
Gemini Genetics, located in a discreet building on a farm in Shropshire, has gained quite a reputation since its opening in 2019. Initially, the clinic focused on artificial insemination for show horse breeding, but now it has become known as the 'only one of its kind' in Europe. This unique establishment has successfully cloned nearly 1,000 animals and has caught the attention of many pet owners, especially those who have recently experienced the loss of a beloved furry companion.
At Gemini Genetics, grieving pet owners have the opportunity to clone their deceased pets for a hefty fee, ranging from £38,000 to £59,000. The process, which can take up to a year to complete, involves extracting DNA from the deceased pet and using it to create a genetically identical copy in the lab. However, this must be done within five days of the pet's passing. The clinic currently offers cloning services for cats, dogs, and horses.
Inside the facility, there are fascinating examples of successful cloning, such as Gem, a cocker-spaniel who was created from a small piece of another dog's ear tissue. There is also a cloned horse in a nearby paddock who is known for making silly faces, as shared by the company on social media. In the lab, tissue samples are carefully extracted, cultured, multiplied, and stored at a chilling temperature of -196C in liquid nitrogen. However, due to the ban on cloning in the EU, the samples are then transported to America before being brought back to the UK.
Lucy Morgan, the lab manager at Gemini Genetics, explains that people often associate cloning with Dolly the sheep, the world's first cloned animal. However, the technology has advanced significantly since then, and it is now a "million miles away" from the process used for Dolly. Although there is still a taboo surrounding cloning, Lucy believes that it is simply a result of it being a relatively new science. She compares the evolution of cloning technology to that of mobile phones over the past two decades.
The first animal to be successfully cloned from an adult cell was Dolly the sheep, and it was considered a remarkable scientific achievement in 1996. Unfortunately, Dolly passed away seven years later due to a lung disease. Despite this, cloning has continued to gain popularity, especially among celebrities. Barbara Streisand made headlines last year when she revealed that she had cloned her beloved dog Samantha not once, but twice. Even Simon Cowell has expressed interest in the procedure.
Kelly Anderson is one of Gemini Genetics' satisfied customers. She paid $25,000 to have her current cat, Belle, cloned from the DNA of her previous pet, Chai. However, Kelly clarifies that her intention was not to bring her cat back from the dead, but rather to keep a part of her with her. She admits that as a dog trainer, she is not wealthy, but she was willing to take out a loan to make this happen. Kelly also emphasizes the importance of treating the clone as an individual and not just a copy.
Currently, Gemini Genetics only offers cloning services for cats, dogs, and horses. However, they have begun collecting DNA from a variety of zoo animals, including elephants and rhinos. This is a precautionary measure taken by many scientists worldwide to potentially bring back species that have gone extinct due to catastrophic events.
In conclusion, Gemini Genetics is a one-of-a-kind establishment in Europe that offers cloning services for various animals. Although cloning is still a controversial topic, it has brought comfort to many grieving pet owners who wish to keep a part of their beloved companion with them. With advancements in technology, who knows what the future holds for cloning and the potential for bringing back extinct species.
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