The Free Press Journal

Scientists to clone John Lennon using tooth DNA?

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Cloning a Beatle! Scientists are trying to extract DNA of John Lennon from his tooth in an attempt to clone one of the rock music's greatest stars. Canadian dentist Michael Zuk attracted world-wide attention in 2011 for purchasing Lennon's tooth for over $30,000 at a UK auction. Lennon had given the freshly extracted rotten tooth to his housekeepe­r Dot Jarlett in 1960s, 'The Examiner' reported. Zuk is now working with American scientists in a US lab where Lennon's tooth will go under the microscope, with researcher­s considerin­g ways to extract the genetic code from the tooth. Zuk hopes that the fragile specimen will provide insight into Lennon's genes. "Many Beatles fans remember where they were when they heard John Lennon was shot. I hope they also live to hear the day he was given another chance," Zuk said on his website. The dentist stands firm with his conviction that the investment could be one of the best decisions of his life. "To potentiall­y say I had a small part in bringing back one of Rock's greatest stars would be mind-blowing," Zuk said. "I am nervous and excited at the possibilit­y that we will be able to fully sequence John Lennon's DNA, very soon I hope. With researcher­s working on ways to clone mammoths, the same technology certainly could make human cloning a reality," said Zuk. This testing on Lennon's DNA may give rise to a heated debate as the subject of cloning often raises moral and ethical questions, the report said.

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