We’re truly in a fascinating time. So, when I say, “Tom Brady’s dog is a clone of his previous dog that passed away two years ago,” he just nods and replies, “Oh, those are the footprints.”
Yes, Brady has cloned Lua, his dog who died in 2023. They took her blood before she passed, and his new dog, Junie, is a genetic copy of Lua. But there’s more to this intriguing story.
Exploring giant research institutes and biosciences
This is where Brady sourced his cloned dog. They’re a cutting-edge genetic research firm that Brady has put money into. It’s not very clear whether he invested in Colossal before acquiring his new dog, or if cloning Lua was just a way to secure his investment. Regardless, their scientific team has the expertise to clone dogs.
They’re also attempting to bring back the woolly mammoth.
Yes, that’s right. One of Colossal’s primary endeavors is “de-extinction,” with the woolly mammoth being their first focus. The company’s concept behind reviving extinct animals is to gain insights into their extinction and use that knowledge to avert future extinctions. While they attribute many of these extinctions to climate change and human impact, they also aim to understand diseases these animals may have faced.
The end goal? They want to create a comprehensive genetic database of extinct or endangered species, essentially resurrecting them in a way that resembles bringing back memories for future generations. They’re first tackling the woolly mammoth and also looking into reviving the Tasmanian tiger, which hasn’t existed since 1936.
You aren’t thinking Jurassic Park, are you?
Who leads this dog cloning and extinct animal resurrection venture?
Colossal has some impressive figures involved. The CEO, George Church, is a distinguished geneticist and teaches at both Harvard and MIT. He’s been heavily involved in efforts to restore the woolly mammoth, a project he has been passionate about for over ten years. He discussed questions regarding funding from Jeffrey Epstein in a 60 Minutes interview, finding a silver lining in what some see as a dilemma.
“Tainted money could be utilized for positive purposes… Just like some tobacco funding has been used effectively.”
Church later expressed regret for his insensitivity, which is not surprising for those familiar with scientists. They often lack the best social graces and can sometimes be overly focused on their goals.
And, just to add, Church was appointed as CEO of Colossal based on advice from Elon Musk. Thought you’d like to know that.
What about the ethics of cloning a deceased dog?
You’ve come to the wrong place for that discussion. However, it strikes me as somewhat irresponsible to use a deceased dog’s blood to create a clone, considering the massive resources involved. Wouldn’t it be better to allocate that effort elsewhere?
Next time, maybe consider adopting a rescue dog, Tom. It won’t be the same, but it would create a meaningful memory of your last dog and help a pup in need. I think it’s safe to say no one will love you more than a rescue dog.
