Camel cloning,from a banked line.
Camel cloning preserves a champion's genome and, from a banked line, can later produce a genetic twin for breeding or racing programmes.
Day 0
Farm biopsy
By mobile laboratory.
Day 21
Line banked
Abu Dhabi, mirrored in Bahrain.
Months 1–6
Nuclear transfer
At our specialised cloning facility.
~13 months later
Birth
Normal camel gestation.
i.
What camel cloning is
Camel cloning produces a genetic twin of a donor camel, built from a cell line banked from a skin biopsy taken on the farm. Camel cloning was first achieved in 2009, and the Gulf has since become the centre of the practice, with cloned camels competing in racing and beauty competitions.
As with every species, cloning begins with cell banking: a farm biopsy, roughly 21 days of growth, then storage at −196 °C in two cities. From that line, owners can also request parentage and lineage testing, or regenerative therapy after an injury.
ii.
How it works here
Our mobile laboratory travels to farms and racing yards so the animal never leaves home. Once the line is banked, nuclear transfer and embryo transfer to a surrogate are carried out at our specialised cloning facility, and the pregnancy runs about 13 months.
A cloned camel's racing ability depends on training, nutrition and temperament as well as genetics, and not every competition accepts cloned animals – owners should check their own federation's rules before beginning.
iii.
Price
- Cell banking, UAE
- $5,000
- Cell banking, GCC
- $6,500
- Cryostorage
- $500 a year, from the second year
- Parentage and lineage testing
- On request
- Camel cloning
- From $100,000, from a banked line
iv.
What it is not
A cloned camel is…
- A genetic twin of the donor.
- Born about 13 months after embryo transfer.
- Verified by DNA against the banked line.
A cloned camel is not…
- A guaranteed champion.
- A shortcut past training and care.
- Eligible for every competition – rules differ.
For breeders weighing banking against cloning, the fuller picture is on camels.
v.
Questions
- How much does camel cloning cost?
- From $100,000, from a banked cell line. Banking is $5,000 in the UAE and $6,500 in the GCC.
- Can you collect the biopsy on my farm?
- Yes. Our mobile laboratory visits farms, racing yards and breeding centres across the UAE and, by arrangement, the wider GCC.
- How long does camel cloning take?
- Typically 18 to 30 months from an established line, because gestation is about 13 months.
- Will a cloned camel race as well as the donor?
- It shares the donor's genes, but performance also depends on training and care. We never promise results.
- Can parentage be verified from the banked line?
- Yes, against samples from the presumed sire and dam, which supports registration and sale.
- Where does cloning itself take place?
- At our specialised cloning facility, once a line is banked and the owner decides to proceed.
vi.
Begin
A consultation can be arranged alongside a farm visit for the biopsy itself.
Arrange a farm visit.
Book a consultation