Making an exact copy of your prettiest camel could set you back around 200,000 dirhams, or a little over $50,000. Dubai’s Reproductive Biotechnology Centre is making headlines for its cloning program that has been producing dozens of cloned dromedary camel calves each year.
The centre is under the scientific direction of Nisar Ahmad Wani, who made history in 2009 by successfully cloning the world’s first camel. Since then, the practice has become a regular occurrence, with Wani and his team making clones of not only camels but also sheep and buffalo.
According to a report, Wani and his team have developed new cloning techniques and maintain cell banks, which allow them to replicate animals with precision. However, their primary focus is on cloning camels, particularly those that are considered “beauty queens” because of their unique combination of drooping lips and long necks.