The dog is man’s best friend, and that friendship transcends through death... it only takes a good amount of money, some frozen DNA and advanced technology.

 

Edgar and Nina Otto’s Labrador, named Lancelot, passed away last year at age 11, but not before his owners has his DNA frozen. The Otto family was one of the five families to win an auction by BioArts International to clone their family dog, and half a year later, little Lancey met his new family.

 

The puppy was born in November in Seoul, South Korea, but it wasn’t until January 25th that he was brought to the United States and delivered to the Ottos.

 

We can’t believe this day is finally here, Nina Otto said. We are so happy to have little Lancey in our family. His predecessor was a very special dog. We are thrilled beyond words, she continued.

 

BioArts Chairmna Lou Hawthorne also called it a very special milestone for (the) company.

 

The Ottos reportedly paid $155,000 for their new puppy, but judging by their reaction, Lancey is priceless. The little Labrador is now officially the first commercially cloned dog. More details are available on www.bestfriendsagain.com.

 

Last month, BioArts also celebrated the one year anniversary of the first pet dog ever cloned, the owner of which is the company’s chairman Lou Hawthorne.

 

Hawthorne began his attempts to clone his dog Missy over a decade ago, but it wasn’t until recently, when he formed BioArts International  in partnership with Sooam Biotech Research Foundation in South Korea, that he managed to fulfill his dream.

 

Sooam Biotech Research Foundation is the same foundation that provided the cloning services in Lancelot’s case.