Cloning: the story so far ...

* An anonymous American is paying more than Pounds 3 million to clone his dog, Missy. Researchers at Texas A&M University have two years in which to achieve the feat of creating the world's first canine clone.

* Richard Seed, a retired American physicist, has said that he will offer a human cloning service at a private clinic in Tijuana, Mexico. This and his intention to replicate himself are not taken seriously by the scientific community.

* To clone Dolly the sheep more than 430 attempts were made at cell fusion, 2 of which resulted in embryos. Of these, just 29 survived to the stage that they could be returned to foster mothers. Only Dolly survived to term.

* Dolly was created from an udder cell of a six-year-old ewe. As cells accumulate damage over the years, scientists are monitoring whether Dolly will age more rapidly than normal.