Cloned Coyotes: South Korean Team Lead By Hwang Woo-Suk Claims To Have Cloned Animal For First Time

SEOUL, South Korea -- A South Korean team led by disgraced stem cell scientist Hwang Woo-suk is claiming to have cloned coyotes for the first time.

The Sooam Biotech Research Foundation said Monday that eight coyotes were born in June as part of its efforts to clone various species of animals in cooperation with South Korea's Gyeonggi Province.

The province says it will raise the coyotes but will later donate them to zoos at home and abroad.

Hwang scandalized the international scientific community in 2005 when his breakthrough human cloning research involving embryonic stem cells was found to have been faked.

Hwang and his former colleagues also created the world's first cloned dog, Snuppy, in 2005, and that achievement was independently confirmed.

Comments

[PATOISJAM]

12:06 PM on 10/19/2011

What I don't understand is why coyotes are or any animal is being cloned. They can reproduce quite well on their own if humans don't encamp of their environment. How about cloning some clean air? How about finding a way to dispose of sewage. Men love to play God don't they?

[OceanFilmProd]

05:38 AM on 10/19/2011

These creatures are stunning.
Look at their paws and the features of their gorgeous faces.
Truly beautiful.

[jf12]

12:33 PM on 10/18/2011

Coyote beautiful. I happen to find coyotes to be the most attractive animals, even more than dogs, more graceful, more curious, more witty. Even in east east Texas, I encounter them often while out hunting, rambling, or star gazing. Usually individuals or pairs, infrequently packs of a half-dozen. Group howls are off-putting, but the lonesome howl is a beautiful complex song.

The ones who knew of me before I knew of them usually pass by, even closely, fearlessly without a sound. Those that I startle (which happens a lot) yip yip, but then sit and examine me. I've never felt threatened, even by a startled pack, more like comradery.

[Sunwyn Ravenwood]

06:48 PM on 10/17/2011

Why in the world would anyone want to clone a coyote? Cheetahs or tigers I could understand.

[cherylhaass]

06:40 PM on 10/17/2011

Coyotes? Why? I think this guy's blowing smoke again. Coyotes are only found in the western hemisphere, not in Asia. Why choose coyotes? Cloning human beings would open a Pandora's box so big, no one would EVER get it closed again. For one thing, who owns the clone? The donor, the doctor,or some big corporation that funded the development of the process? Is a clone human, or can it be owned? That's just for starters. You going to clone organ donors? Or just isolated organs? Gets real sick, real fast.

[scotty5720]

06:12 PM on 10/17/2011

There's not enough room for all the animals & people we already have. Cloning animals is stupid unless there is a medical reason.

[Chad Wheeler]

08:54 PM on 10/17/2011

I assume doing animal cloning is for a far off human medical reason though, don't you?

[hjacqueline]

06:05 PM on 10/17/2011

Hoping for human cloning.

[Bebees Human]

06:44 PM on 10/17/2011

Oh it's been done many, many times already! Really! They are called identical twins. There have even been identical triplets, quads and quintuplets. The identical quintuplets were named the Dionne Quintuplets in Canada.

[peeowedaboutit2]

05:45 PM on 10/17/2011

If I cloned my wife, Would I have twice as many chances to get my chores done? Or would I have half as much time?!

[getsit]

05:18 PM on 10/17/2011

Coyotes are extremely prolific breeders. Why would they choose them? The US has so many they are often pests. Can we export some of ours?

[cottere5]

05:18 PM on 10/17/2011

Why would anyone clone coyotes? Poodles, Labs, Wienie Dogs, I can see, but coyotes?

[Alexis Elizabeth Drob]

04:53 PM on 10/17/2011

I absolutely despise people who make all these nasty comments about coyotes. You forget that they have as much if not more right to be here than any of you. And, like you, they are just trying to survive where you have invaded and stolen their territory, their hunting grounds. If anything, they should be shooting you instead!!!

[londonwitch]

04:42 PM on 10/17/2011

What does going green have to do with cloning wolves? Looks like this would be on the animal section

[Jeff Klenck]

04:33 PM on 10/17/2011

Great news now Koreans won't starve.................otherwise what is the reason you'd clone a coyote?

[woodup2]

05:02 PM on 10/17/2011

Practice.

[hjacqueline]

06:06 PM on 10/17/2011

Yup! Bingo! You are right.

[getsit]

05:19 PM on 10/17/2011

I was wondering my self, but now I have my answer. One would think they would clone some animal near extinction.

[madeye1]

08:36 PM on 10/17/2011

Or something edible.

[Chad Wheeler]

08:55 PM on 10/17/2011

True, but how do you get hold of an animal near extinction in order to practice on it? Coyotes are hardy, plentiful, and easy to get.

[uncommonsensesc]

04:15 PM on 10/17/2011

If they need some, they can come to SC and round up all the can carry!

[royjones2]

04:13 PM on 10/17/2011

Hwang Woo-Suk? Is he related to Hwang Hugng-Lo??