Cloned cats
3China cloned someone’s deceased cat. While theoretically genetically identical, it has slightly different markings and eye colors. Raises interesting genetics questions in my mind (although not addressed in the article).
https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/chinas-first-cloned-kitten--garlic-66400
Don’t think I’d want to clone any of my deceased kitties though. Too creepy. Each were special in their own way, one of a kind and I miss them, but I don’t think I’d want to bring them back as a clone.
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If I had 35k to just burn, I’d donate that money in her name to shelters that need help. I can’t imagine having a cat that looks like my cat but isn’t my cat but was meant to be my cat?
@therealjrn
“Sometimes dead is better.”
@cinoclav r/noisygifs
@cinoclav This was my first thought.
They probably just yoinked a kitten out of an alley and charged him 35 grand for the “cloning.”
Seriously, I’m not sure why you would want to clone a cat unless you’re really loaded and Fluffy needs a kidney; they are different individuals. You’re exactly as likely to get an animal of matching temperament by adopting from a shelter. More likely, in fact, since there is a selection process. It’s just pet adoption with extra steps.
I mean it’s way cheaper to just grab whichever one shows up in your driveway.
Even if I was guaranteed the clone was a perfect duplication of my pet, and I had money to burn, I still don’t think I’d do it. It would screw with my mind. Seeing my beloved animal, and trying to fool myself into believing it was the same one, but deep down knowing this was not. I might even subconsciously resent this new animal a little. That sounds a little twisted, but no more than having a pet cloned in the first place I guess.
@ruouttaurmind Ship of Theseus much?
@PocketBrain Externalism. Even if the animal were comprised of the same cells, the experiences which led the creature to be our beloved pet would be different, and would create a very different personality.
Imagine the heartbreak if one slight external influence were different to the cloned animal and the effect nested in an undesirable way. It would look like your pet, but it would act like a demon. Would this affect your affection for the deceased pet?
I watched a documentary about a similar situation. It was called Pet Sematary…it didn’t go well.
@j2 I never watched Pet semetary. It looked scary.
@JnKL It was very disturbing (especially the bedroom scene). I have never watched it again.