KOREA GOES HARD ON DRUG BATTLE. Debuts First Cloned Drug-Sniffing Dogs

South Korea, the home of the first successful cloned Labrador is now the first country to put the animals into operation in an official capacity. They will be used by the Korean Customs Service to sniff out bombs and drugs. The dogs name “Toppy,” ranging six-months of age were cloned from an award-winning drug-sniffing canine and their service is being applauded because not only will it keep costs down but cloning is being cited as an alternative for jobs that other animals don’t normally want. So far the scientific team has been able to clone 20 dogs and five wolves.

“They have a superior nature. They are active and excel in accepting the training,” said Kim Nak-seung, a trainer at the Customs Service-affiliated dog training center.



In other cloning news, the first wave of second-generation clones are on the way as scientists report that one of the Korean dogs to predate the latest crop of drug-sniffing K-9’s will become a father after successfully breeding with cloned “bitches” of the same breed (through artificial insemination). Snubby an Afghan hound will be the first cloned father of a cloned offspring.



SOURCE. The International Herald Tribune