Questions
Every question,in one place.
The questions owners ask us about pet cell banking and pet cloning, collected from every page of this site and answered plainly. Each answer is also on the page it came from.
i.
Preservation
- Can cells be banked after my animal has died?
- Often yes, within the first day or two, if the body is kept cool and not frozen. Call us first – before anything else is arranged. The first-hours guide explains what to do.
- How long do cells last at −196 °C?
- Decades. Frozen cells do not age: at this temperature their metabolism has stopped. Lines stored since the 1970s have been thawed and grown.
- What if I move country?
- The line stays where it is and remains yours. At your request it can be shipped to another qualified laboratory in a dry vapour shipper, with the permits prepared for you.
- Who owns the cells?
- You do. Reem Bio is custodian, not owner. The clauses are set out on Trust and custody.
- Can I withdraw?
- At any time, in writing. We destroy every vial at both sites and confirm it in writing. No reason is needed.
- Do you test for disease?
- We test the line for mycoplasma and confirm identity against your animal's DNA. We do not diagnose your animal; genetic screening is a separate service described on genetic testing.
- How many vials?
- 8–12, split across two laboratories. More can be grown from the same line later if needed.
- Is the biopsy painful?
- It is done under local anaesthetic and takes a few minutes. The site is closed with one or two stitches or tissue glue, and most animals are back to normal within hours.
- Does banking commit me to cloning?
- No. Preservation is complete in itself. Testing, therapy or cloning can follow years later – or never.
- How much does pet cell banking cost?
- $5,000 in the UAE, $6,500 in the GCC, and by consultation in the USA.
- How long does it take to bank a line?
- About 21 days from biopsy to a stable, tested, frozen line.
- Where is the biopsy taken?
- At a partner veterinary clinic or at home with a sealed kit.
- Is cryostorage included in the first year?
- Yes. The first year is included, and storage is $500 a year from the second year onward.
- Can I bank after my pet has died?
- Often, if tissue is collected as soon as possible and the body is kept cool, not frozen.
- Does my animal need another sample?
- No. If a line is banked, DNA is extracted from a spare vial. Nothing further is taken from your animal.
- How long do results take?
- Three to six weeks, depending on the panel. We tell you the expected date when you order.
- Which species can be tested?
- Dogs, cats, camels and horses. Panels are most complete for dogs and horses, where the most variants are documented.
- Can a result be wrong?
- Laboratory error is rare, but it happens. A result that would change a decision – breeding, for example – can be confirmed on a second vial.
- Who sees the report?
- You, and anyone you name. We never share results with breed registries or insurers without your written consent – see Privacy.
- Will this cure my animal?
- No therapy we prepare is a cure. Some animals improve markedly, some a little, some not at all. Your veterinarian will tell you what is reasonable to expect for the condition.
- Can you treat my animal directly?
- No. We prepare the cells; your veterinarian prescribes and administers them. We can work with your own veterinarian or a partner clinic.
- Is it safe?
- Because the cells are the animal's own, rejection is not expected. Every dose is tested for sterility before release. Local reactions at the injection site can occur.
- Can racing animals be treated?
- Often, but racing rules vary by authority and may require a withdrawal period. We check the rules for your animal's discipline first.
ii.
Cloning
- Will the twin look the same?
- Often very close, but not always identical. White markings and some coat patterns form partly by chance, so they can differ.
- Will it have the same personality?
- No one can promise that. Temperament is shaped by genes and by life; the twin will have its own.
- What if no pregnancy results?
- We tell you and explain what we saw. The terms of a further attempt are set out in your agreement before the programme begins.
- Can I clone from a line banked years ago?
- Yes. Frozen cells do not age, so a line banked today can be used decades from now.
- Do you clone birds?
- No. Birds are preservation only – nuclear transfer is not yet possible in birds.
- Do I need to bank cells before cloning?
- Yes. Cloning always begins from a banked cell line, built from a small biopsy and grown for about 21 days.
- Where does cloning itself take place?
- At our specialised cloning facility, once you decide to proceed.
- How much does pet cloning cost?
- Cats from $65,000, dogs from $85,000, camels from $100,000, horses by consultation – all from a banked line.
- How long does the whole process take?
- The line is ready in about 21 days. The full programme, including gestation, takes months and varies by species.
- Will the clone look and behave the same?
- It will share the donor's nuclear DNA, but markings can differ and character is shaped by its own upbringing.
- How much does dog cloning cost?
- From $85,000, from a banked cell line. Banking itself is $5,000 in the UAE and $6,500 in the GCC.
- How long does dog cloning take?
- The line is ready in about 21 days. A full programme, including gestation of about 63 days, usually spans six to twelve months.
- Can any breed be cloned?
- Any breed with a healthy banked line, subject to the availability of a suitable surrogate.
- Will the puppy look identical to my dog?
- Usually very similar, but markings and size can differ. Character will be its own.
- Can I bank cells after my dog has died?
- Often, if tissue is collected as soon as possible and the body is kept cool, not frozen.
- Where does the actual cloning take place?
- At our specialised cloning facility, after a cell line has been banked and the decision is made to proceed.
- 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.
- Where does cloning itself happen?
- At our specialised cloning facility, once a line is banked and you choose to proceed.
- 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.
- How much does horse cloning cost?
- By consultation, from a banked cell line. Banking itself is $5,000 in the UAE and $6,500 in the GCC.
- Can a gelding be cloned?
- Yes. A genetic twin of a gelding is an intact male able to breed, which is why some owners bank geldings.
- Will my studbook register a clone?
- Many do not. We recommend checking with your breed society before beginning.
- Can my own vet take the biopsy?
- Yes. We send a sealed kit and instructions, or our veterinarian attends alongside your team.
- How long does horse cloning take?
- Typically 15 to 24 months from an established line, including gestation of about 11 months.
iii.
Prices
- What does pet cloning cost in total?
- Banking is $5,000 to $6,500. Cloning, if you later choose it, is from $65,000 for a cat up to $100,000 or more for a camel, or by consultation.
- Is storage really included in year one?
- Yes. The first year of cryostorage is included in the banking price; $500 a year applies from the second year.
- Are there extra fees for urgent collection?
- No. We do not charge an urgency fee for urgent or after-death collection.
- Is genetic testing included in banking?
- No. It is available on request, quoted per panel, and takes three to six weeks.
- Does the price include shipping?
- Yes. Shipping between our laboratories is included whenever a line moves between sites.
- How are payment terms for cloning set?
- Payment terms for cloning are agreed in writing at consultation.
iv.
Species
- At what age should I bank my dog's cells?
- Any age, but ideally while the dog is healthy, between one and ten. Younger cells grow more reliably.
- Does the biopsy need sedation?
- Usually not. It is done under local anaesthetic. Some anxious dogs are more comfortable with light sedation, which your veterinarian decides.
- Can I bank after my dog has died?
- Often, if tissue is collected as soon as possible and the body is kept cool, not frozen. Message us at once – see Urgent.
- Will a cloned dog look the same?
- Usually very similar, but not always identical – markings and size can differ. Character will be its own.
- Can you clone any breed?
- Any breed with a healthy banked line, subject to the availability of suitable surrogates. We will tell you at consultation.
- How much does it cost?
- Banking is $5,000 in the UAE and $6,500 in the GCC. Cloning is $85,000 from a banked line.
- Is my cat too old to bank?
- Rarely. Older cats' cells grow more slowly, but we bank lines from cats in their late teens.
- Does my cat need to travel?
- No. A veterinarian can collect at home with a sealed kit.
- Can I bank after my cat has died?
- Often, if a sample is taken as soon as possible and the body is kept cool, not frozen. See Urgent.
- How much does cloning a cat cost?
- From $65,000, from a banked line. Banking itself is $5,000 in the UAE.
- Do you test pedigree cats?
- Yes, for inherited conditions with published markers, and for parentage. Prices on request.
- Can you collect on my farm?
- Yes. Our mobile laboratory comes to farms, racing yards and breeding centres across the UAE, and to the wider GCC by arrangement.
- Will a cloned camel race as well?
- It will share its donor's genes, but performance depends on training, care and temperament too. We never promise results.
- Can I bank a camel that has died?
- Often, if tissue is collected as soon as possible and the body is kept cool. See Urgent.
- Do you verify parentage?
- Yes, from the banked line, against samples from the sire and dam.
- Can banked cells help an injured horse?
- Your veterinarian may prescribe stem cells prepared from the banked line. Outcomes vary.
v.
Locations
- What happens during a power cut?
- Liquid nitrogen tanks need no electricity to stay cold. Monitoring runs on backup power, and tanks hold temperature for days between fills.
- Can I choose where my line is stored?
- Yes. Abu Dhabi and Bahrain are the default pair for the Gulf; you may request California as the mirror.
- Can I visit the vault?
- Clients can visit the Abu Dhabi laboratory by appointment.
- What if a vault closes?
- The line passes to a named successor custodian with 90 days' notice, as set out on Trust and custody.
- Is the laboratory actually in Abu Dhabi?
- Yes. Abu Dhabi is our headquarters, our first laboratory, and the primary vault for lines banked across the Gulf.
- How long does it take for a line to be established?
- About three weeks of culture and testing before the line is considered banked.
- What does cell banking cost in Abu Dhabi?
- $5,000, with cryostorage at $500 a year from the second year.
- Is the line stored only in Abu Dhabi?
- No. Every line is split and mirrored to our laboratory in Bahrain, so it exists in two cities.
- Does banking commit me to cloning later?
- No. Banking preserves the option. Many clients never use the line for cloning at all.
- Is Bahrain a full laboratory or a storage site?
- A full laboratory. It cultures, tests and freezes lines independently, and can thaw and rebuild a line without help from Abu Dhabi.
- How far is Bahrain from Abu Dhabi?
- About 450 km. Half of every line banked in either city is mirrored to the other.
- Do you serve Saudi Arabia from Bahrain?
- Yes, particularly the Eastern Province, which sits a short crossing away by the King Fahd Causeway.
- What does cell banking cost in Bahrain?
- $6,500, with cryostorage at $500 a year from the second year.
- Can the biopsy be done at home?
- Yes. A veterinarian visits with a sealed collection kit and the sample travels in transport medium to the laboratory and is placed in culture on arrival.
- Is there a Reem Bio laboratory in Dubai?
- No. Biopsies are taken at partner veterinary clinics in Dubai, or at home, and transported chilled to our laboratory in Abu Dhabi, about 130 km away.
- How quickly does the sample reach the bench?
- The sample travels in transport medium to the laboratory and is placed in culture on arrival. A skin biopsy travels well chilled for short distances, and the Dubai to Abu Dhabi route is routine for us.
- Can you collect from a racing yard or stable?
- Yes, by arrangement. Our mobile laboratory serves stables, farms and racing yards, including in Dubai.
- What does cell banking cost in Dubai?
- $5,000, the same price as elsewhere in the UAE, with cryostorage at $500 a year from the second year.
- Can I have the biopsy done at home?
- Yes. A veterinarian visits with a sealed collection kit and the sample travels in transport medium to the laboratory and is placed in culture on arrival.
- Where is the biopsy taken in Sharjah?
- At a partner veterinary clinic, or at home with a sealed collection kit brought by a visiting veterinarian.
- Where is the sample processed?
- At our laboratory in Abu Dhabi, after chilled transport in transport medium; it is placed in culture on arrival.
- What does banking cost?
- $5,000, with cryostorage at $500 a year from the second year.
- Is the line stored in one place?
- No. Every line is split and stored in two cities, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.
- Does this commit me to cloning later?
- No. Banking keeps the option open; cloning is a separate decision, made later if at all.
- Is there a laboratory in Saudi Arabia?
- Not yet. Collection is through partner veterinarians or our mobile laboratory, with chilled transport to Bahrain or Abu Dhabi.
- Can you visit a farm for a camel or horse?
- Yes, by arrangement, for camels and horses especially. We agree the date and access in advance.
- How does the sample travel?
- Samples travel chilled in transport medium to the laboratory and are placed in culture on arrival.
- What does cell banking cost?
- $6,500, with cryostorage at $500 a year from the second year.
- What does camel cloning cost?
- From $100,000, from a banked line. Horse cloning is quoted by consultation.
- Where is the line stored?
- Split between two cities – whichever laboratory receives it first, and its mirror.
- Is there a laboratory in Qatar?
- No, not yet. Biopsies travel chilled to Bahrain or Abu Dhabi.
- Can you collect from a farm?
- Yes, by arrangement, especially for camels and horses.
- What does banking cost from Qatar?
- $6,500, the same as the rest of the GCC outside the UAE.
- How is the line stored?
- Split between the receiving laboratory and its mirror, so it exists in two cities.
- Is there a laboratory in Kuwait?
- No. Collection is through partner veterinarians, with chilled transport to Bahrain or Abu Dhabi.
- Can you visit a stable or farm?
- Yes, by arrangement, for horses and camels.
- Is the line kept in one place?
- No. It is mirrored between two laboratories.
- Is there a laboratory in Oman?
- Not yet. Biopsies travel chilled to Bahrain or Abu Dhabi.
- Can you collect from a farm outside Muscat?
- Yes, by arrangement, particularly for camels and horses.
- Does the sample need to be frozen for shipment?
- No. Samples travel chilled in transport medium to the laboratory and are placed in culture on arrival.
- Where is the line stored once banked?
- In two cities: the receiving laboratory and its mirror.
- Where exactly is the California laboratory?
- We describe it by region rather than exact address, consistent with how we discuss all of our sites.
- Why is pricing by consultation in the US?
- Veterinary costs and shipping distances vary widely across such a large country, so we confirm an accurate quote before scheduling.
- Is my line still mirrored?
- Yes. A dry shipper carries it to our Abu Dhabi vault, where it is held as a second copy.
- How long does the dry shipper keep the line viable?
- Dry shippers hold cryogenic temperature for more than a week, well within the transit time to the Gulf.
- Can I use a banked California line for cloning later?
- Yes, from a banked line, subject to the same process used elsewhere in our network.
- Does shipping between labs cost extra?
- No. Shipping between our laboratories is included.
- Where is my sample processed if I live in the US?
- At our California laboratory, after chilled transport from your local veterinarian.
- Why isn't there a fixed US price?
- Distances and veterinary costs vary enormously across the country, so we quote accurately at consultation rather than publish one number for every state.
- Is my line mirrored outside the US?
- Yes. A dry shipper carries a portion of the line to our Abu Dhabi vault.
- How long does banking take from biopsy to completion?
- About three weeks from collection to a tested, banked line.
- Can I later request cloning from a US-banked line?
- Yes, from a banked line, at the prices quoted for your species.
- Do you have a laboratory in Japan?
- No. We supply a sealed kit to your veterinarian, who takes the biopsy locally, then ship it chilled by courier to California, or to Abu Dhabi on request, where it is placed in culture on arrival.
- Which laboratory processes a sample from Japan?
- Usually California, given flight routes, though Abu Dhabi is also used. We confirm the route in advance.
- How much does banking cost from Japan?
- By consultation, reflecting shipping and courier arrangements specific to Japan.
- Can my own veterinarian take the biopsy?
- Yes. We send a sealed collection kit and instructions directly to them.
- Is cloning available from a line banked in Japan?
- Yes, from the banked line, carried out at our specialised cloning facility, with import planning for bringing the animal to Japan.
- Is the line mirrored even though it starts overseas?
- Yes. Once established, a portion is always sent to a second laboratory.
vi.
Urgent
- Can I do this myself?
- Please don't. A veterinarian collects the sample in minutes, with sterile instruments and the right transport medium. A sample taken without them rarely grows.
- Which parts are sampled?
- Skin. The veterinarian decides where, usually a small area of the ear or flank, and nothing else is disturbed.
- What does it cost?
- The standard cell-banking price – $5,000 in the UAE, $6,500 elsewhere in the GCC. There is no urgency fee, day or night.
- What if the line does not grow?
- We tell you within three weeks and charge only the collection. We never bank a line we cannot stand behind.
- Should I put the body in the freezer?
- No. Freezing without protective medium destroys cells. Cool, not frozen.
vii.
Still unsure
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