Little Nicky (cat)
Encyclopedia
Little Nicky is the first commercially produced cat clone. He was produced from the DNA
of a 17-year-old Maine Coon
cat named Nicky who died in 2003. Little Nicky's owner, a north Texas
woman named Julie (her last name was not released) who paid $50,000 to have Nicky cloned, claimed that Little Nicky's behavior is similar to that of her late cat Nicky, including an unusual liking for water, though hydrophilic behavior is common for this breed.
The cloning operation was performed by the California
-based company Genetic Savings & Clone, which later closed in 2006.
The Humane Society of the United States
and other animal welfare
groups denounced the cloning, saying that the $50,000 could have been better used to save some of the millions of animals euthanized
each year.
The cat showed no negative side effects
from the cloning and is alive and healthy.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
of a 17-year-old Maine Coon
Maine Coon
The Maine Coon is a breed of domestic cat with a distinctive physical appearance and valuable hunting skills. It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America, specifically native to the state of Maine, where it is the official State Cat....
cat named Nicky who died in 2003. Little Nicky's owner, a north Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
woman named Julie (her last name was not released) who paid $50,000 to have Nicky cloned, claimed that Little Nicky's behavior is similar to that of her late cat Nicky, including an unusual liking for water, though hydrophilic behavior is common for this breed.
The cloning operation was performed by the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
-based company Genetic Savings & Clone, which later closed in 2006.
The Humane Society of the United States
Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States , based in Washington, D.C., is the largest animal advocacy organization in the world. In 2009, HSUS reported assets of over US$160 million....
and other animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
groups denounced the cloning, saying that the $50,000 could have been better used to save some of the millions of animals euthanized
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
each year.
The cat showed no negative side effects
Adverse effect
In medicine, an adverse effect is a harmful and undesired effect resulting from a medication or other intervention such as surgery.An adverse effect may be termed a "side effect", when judged to be secondary to a main or therapeutic effect. If it results from an unsuitable or incorrect dosage or...
from the cloning and is alive and healthy.