[tt] WSJ: Firm Takes Order For a Cloned Dog

[Premise Checker]

Firm Takes Order For a Cloned Dog
By EVAN RAMSTAD
February 18, 2008

SEOUL, South Korea -- A South Korean biotechnology company said it had 
received its first order to clone a pet animal and, if it is successful, 
that it aims to begin full commercial service next year.

RNL Bio Co., a company affiliated with the Seoul National University 
stem-cell-research lab that produced the first cloned dog in 2005, took the 
order last week from a California woman who saved biological material from 
a pit bull terrier that died.

Researchers will take several weeks to determine if the material is viable 
for cloning, said Ra Jeong-chan, RNL's chief executive and a veterinarian. 
"If there's no problem, we can begin the cloning process in April," he 
said.

The company plans to charge about $150,000 for dog cloning, though it is 
charging $50,000 for the first one because the woman is allowing it to be 
publicized.

As it begins to commercialize the process, RNL aims to produce dog clones 
for medical-diagnostic and security purposes. Pet clones are a secondary 
market to be pursued later because of the high costs, Mr. Ra said.

Write to Evan Ramstad at evan.ramstad at wsj.com