02.12.2025 21:50
As the trend of pet cloning among celebrities rapidly spreads, ethical discussions in this field have resurfaced. Cloning services, previously favored by names like Barbra Streisand and Paris Hilton, have come back into the spotlight following the announcement by former NFL star Tom Brady that he cloned his dog, which passed away in 2023.
The pet cloning craze that extends from Hollywood to the sports world is back in the spotlight. Despite its high cost, this method is rapidly gaining popularity among celebrities, enticing them with the promise of reuniting with their beloved companions they have lost. However, this trend, initiated years ago by Barbra Streisand and Paris Hilton, has sparked renewed debate following Tom Brady's revelation that his dog is also a clone; experts are warning about serious risks regarding ethics, health, and animal welfare.
3.6 MILLION LIRA OPERATION
Viagen, a globally recognized company in dog cloning, was recently acquired by the genetic research company Colossal. Viagen, which holds the technology licenses of the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, known for producing the first cloned sheep named Dolly, charges between $50,000 (2.1 million TL) and $85,000 (3.6 million TL) for dog cloning procedures.
CLONED HIS DOG THAT DIED IN 2023
Tom Brady, a seven-time NFL champion and current sports commentator, reignited the debate by announcing that his new dog Junie is actually a clone of his pitbull mix dog Lua, who passed away in 2023. Brady expressed that they see Junie as "not a scientific experiment, but a part of the family."
SERIOUS RISKS EXIST
However, experts point out that this rising trend among celebrities carries serious risks. It is emphasized that cloned animals may be more prone to health issues, that procedures may need to be repeated due to low success rates, and that the ethical boundaries of biotechnology are being pushed. Additionally, it is noted that the high costs have turned cloning services into a privileged "luxury service" accessible only to a certain segment of society.
It is known that pet cloning is frequently discussed in popular culture. An episode of HBO's The Rehearsal addressed the emotional and ethical dimensions of the cloning processes.