Cloned dogs detect cancer


They're cute, they're cuddly, and they could be a new weapon in the armoury against cancer in humans.

This litter of Labrador retriever pups has been cloned from a Japanese dog thought able to detect the disease by smell.

Scientists at South Korean firm RNL Bio which is behind the project say it's a big leap forward on several fronts.

SOUNDBITE: Kim Yoon, RNL Bio spokesman, saying (Korean):

"For the first time in the world four puppies were successfully cloned at the same time. It's shown the economic efficiency of cloning which is essential for commercial cloning projects."

The pups will be sent to Japan for training to see if they've inherited their mother's special sniffing skills.

Scientists are studying whether cancer cells give off a distinctive odour which dogs can spot by sniffing the breath or skin of patients.

Cloning has been a double edged sword for South Korea.

Seoul National University, which partners RNL Bio, is credited with producing the world's first cloned dog in 2005.

But national pride took a severe dent when team leader Hwang Woo-suk was charged with fabricating data in cloned human embryonic stem cell studies.

The team has since gone on to produce other cloned animals and the multiple birth of pups with possible cancer-sniffing qualities will ensure the country's place as top dog in cloning and stem cell research.

Paul Chapman, Reuters.

cuddly - inviting cuddling or hugging; "a cuddlesome baby"; "a cuddly teddybear"

cuddlesome

lovable, loveable - having characteristics that attract love or affection; "a mischievous but lovable child"

litter - the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
retriever

Noun

a dog trained to retrieve shot birds and animals
leap The act of leaping; a jump.

give off

To send forth; emit: chemical changes that give off energy.
sword - a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
dent - an appreciable consequence (especially a lessening); "it made a dent in my bank account"