Cat cloning,from a banked line.
Cat cloning produces a genetic twin of a donor cat, built from a cell line that is banked well before any decision to proceed.
Cat cloning
- Line ready
- ~21 days
- Gestation
- ~65 days
- Cloning
- From $65,000
- Sites
- Abu Dhabi · Bahrain · California
i.
What cat cloning is
Cat cloning produces a kitten carrying the same nuclear DNA as a donor cat, from a cell line grown out of a small skin biopsy. The first cloned cat was born in 2002, and did not share her donor's calico markings – a single fact that explains much of what cloning can and cannot do for coat pattern.
The route to cloning always runs through cell banking first: a biopsy, about 21 days of growth, then storage at −196 °C in two cities. Only from that stable line can cloning, genetic testing or regenerative therapy later follow.
ii.
How it works here
Biopsies are taken at a partner veterinary clinic or at home; most cats are home within the hour. Once the line is banked, nuclear transfer and embryo transfer to a surrogate are carried out at our specialised cloning facility.
Coat pattern
Coat pattern in cats is influenced by which X chromosome is active in each skin cell, a process decided partly by chance in the embryo. A genetic twin of a patterned cat – calico or tortoiseshell especially – will usually look different. Solid-coloured cats tend to look much more alike to their donors.
iii.
Price
- Cell banking, UAE
- $5,000
- Cell banking, GCC
- $6,500
- Cryostorage
- $500 a year, from the second year
- Cat cloning
- From $65,000, from a banked line
iv.
What it is not
A cloned cat is…
- A genetic twin with the same nuclear DNA.
- A healthy kitten, born about 65 days after transfer.
- Verified by DNA before it comes home.
A cloned cat is not…
- Your cat, returned.
- Certain to share markings – especially calicos and tortoiseshells.
- Certain to share temperament.
For a fuller account of preserving a cat's cells, including breed notes, see cats.
v.
Questions
- How much does cat cloning cost?
- From $65,000, from a banked cell line. Banking is $5,000 in the UAE and $6,500 in the GCC.
- Will a cloned cat have the same coat?
- Not necessarily. Patterned coats, especially calico and tortoiseshell, will usually differ. Solid colours are more alike.
- Is an older cat too old to bank?
- Rarely. Cells from older cats grow more slowly, but banking is still usually possible.
- Does my cat need to travel for the biopsy?
- No. A veterinarian can collect a sample at home with a sealed kit.
- How long does the whole process take?
- Banking takes about 21 days. A cloning programme, including gestation of about 65 days, usually takes six to twelve months to birth.
- Where does cloning itself happen?
- At our specialised cloning facility, once a line is banked and you choose to proceed.
vi.
Begin
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