By Nick Mays

THE first cloned cats using chromatin transfer, the most advanced cloning technology, were due to appear at a special event showcasing cloning technology within days of their first birthday.


Tabouli and Baba Ganoush, the first cats produced using chromatin transfer (CT) were to appear at cloning corporation Genetic Savings & Clone’s exhibit at WIRED NextFest, billed as the “World’s Fair” of technology, in Chicago, between 24-26 June. The famous cats, which were born to different surrogate mothers, turned one year old on 12 and 14 June.

Invitation-only exhibitors at WIRED NextFest, hosted by WIRED Magazine, represented the best in emerging technology. Pet cloning, which GSC began offering to clients in 2004 is “the ultimate luxury service for discriminating pet lovers”, said GSC CEO Lou Hawthorne.

“The milestone of this first birthday was a strong indicator of the positive health results we’ve achieved with chromatin transfer”, said Chief Scientific Officer Phil Damiani.

The Sausalito, California-based company produced Tabouli and Baba Ganoush using a skin cell taken from Tahini, a sleek Bengal cat that belongs to Hawthorne’s five year old son. The company offers cat clones on a limited basis to an upscale clientele.

The clients who have received cat clones from GSC have expressed great satisfaction with the strong degree of physical and behavioural resemblance between their new cats and the “original” cats (officially termed “genetic donors”).

GSC’s aim of producing a cloned dog continues, under the banner of their ‘Missplicity Project’, financed by billionaire John Sperling, who wants a clone of his beloved crossbreed, ‘Missy’, who died two years ago.

The actual ‘mechanics’ of producing a cloned dog are far more complex than for cloning cats, although the company is confident that they will break through the canine cloning barrier within the next two years.