Posted: February 2, 2009, 5 a.m. EST
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Lancelot Encore |
Edgar and Nina Otto of Florida are the proud owners of a new 10-week-old
Labrador Retriever named Lancelot Encore, in honor of the puppy's genetic donor, Sir Lancelot, who died January 2008.
The Ottos had the family dog's DNA stored and by October, samples from the original dog were on their way to the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation in Seoul, South Korea, which provides cloning services to BioArts International. BioArts opened up an online auction in July for a chance to clone a family dog.
The Ottos were one of five families to bid and win, paying $155,000 for "Lancey" the cloned puppy, born Nov. 18, 2008. Lou Hawthorne, BioArts chairman, delivered the puppy to the couple Jan. 26.
"His predecessor was a very special dog," Nina Otto said. "Sir Lancelot was the most human of any dog we've ever had."
Hawthorne said the delivery was a "very special milestone for our company."