no obstacle for missy＇s mysterious billionaire owner; he＇s put up $3.7 million so far to fund a&m＇s research.
contrary to some media reports, missy is not dead. the owner wants a twin to carry on missy＇s fine qualities after she does die. the prototype is, by all accounts, athletic, good-natured and supersmart. missy＇s master does not expect an exact copy of her. he knows her clone may not have her temperament. in a statement of purpose, missy＇s owner and the a&m team say they are "both looking forward to studying the ways that her clones differ from missy."
besides cloning a great dog, the project may contribute insight into the old question of nature vs. nurture. it could also lead to the cloning of special rescue dogs and many endangered animals.
however, westhusin is cautious about his work. he knows that even if he gets a dog pregnant, the offspring, should they survive, will face the problems shown at birth by other cloned animals: