Tom Brady, the legendary NFL quarterback, has made headlines with a unique claim: his new dog, Junie, is a clone of his family's beloved pit bull mix, Lua. This groundbreaking announcement comes from Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotechnology company in which Brady has invested. The company, which recently acquired Viagen Pets and Equine, aims to revolutionize pet cloning and conservation efforts. Brady's statement emphasizes his deep love for animals, sharing how he worked with Colossal to clone Lua before her passing. The process involved a simple blood draw from their elderly dog, a testament to the company's non-invasive cloning technology. Lua, adopted by Brady and his former wife, Gisele Bündchen, passed away in December 2023, and the sample for Junie was collected before her death. Brady expressed excitement about the potential of Colossal and Viagen's combined technologies, envisioning a future where families can reclaim their lost pets and contribute to endangered species conservation. Viagen, now under Colossal's ownership, has a history of cloning pets for celebrities like Barbra Streisand and Paris Hilton. The company's technology is licensed from the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh, renowned for cloning Dolly the Sheep in 1996. Colossal, founded in 2021, has gained attention for its ambitious 'de-extinction' research, including projects to revive the woolly mammoth and dodo bird. However, the company's claim of cloning three dire wolf pups has faced scrutiny from conservation groups. The cost of cloning a dog through Viagen typically ranges from $50,000 to $85,000. This groundbreaking technology has sparked discussions on the ethics of pet cloning, as seen in the HBO series 'The Rehearsal,' which explored the complexities of replicating a cherished companion. Despite the controversy, Brady's family views Junie as a cherished member, not a scientific experiment. This story raises intriguing questions about the boundaries of scientific advancement and the emotional connections we form with our pets.
