News over the possible cloning of a "majestic" bull named Alcalde has some in the animal rights community upset. Apparently, Alcalde is ending his days after siring some 400 offspring and his owner is considering paying $45,000 to a Texas based company to have him cloned.
This article writes, "Animal rights advocates and scientists say that cloning is still in its infancy, with a low rate of success that results in an unacceptable number of deformed animals. The process involves taking genetic material from an animal, inserting it into an egg whose nucleus, or genetic material, has been removed, then taking the resulting embryo and implanting it into a host female, which carries it until birth. Scientists say there is little evidence that an animal's fighting spirit can be replicated this way, arguing that such things as behavior are typically dictated by experiences and surroundings."
Since Dolly the sheep, we've known that cloning is problematic, to say the least! It is inefficient. It creates "damaged" abnormal offspring. It's expensive. And some would say, morally wrong, especially in human beings. Perhaps we can get the animal rights enthusiasts to get on board with an anti-human cloning agenda?
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