No Bull, That Heifer is Cloned

Cloning technology is slowly moving forwards, but we're finally using it for useful purposes, like bull-fighting:

Vicente Torrent, a specialist in veterinary genetics, says the newborn calf, named Got, is an exact replica of a muscular, horned specimen of the type matadors face in bullrings.

The animal was unveiled Wednesday, a day after being born. It now weighs 24 kilograms (53 pounds).

Torrent says his 17-man team is hopeful Got will exhibit the same fierce traits that made his genetic predecessor, Vasito, such a valuable specimen.

Animal cloning began in 1996 with Dolly the sheep. Torrent said it took three years of work to devise a means of preserving what he called valuable bull genes.

Seems like a worthy use of cloning technology, after all, who doesn't like spending 3 years on making an animal whose sole purpose is to be slaughtered in front of a crowd of cheering fans?

Not that I'm against bull-fighting, I'm not -- I've read The Sun Also Rises like 15 times -- I just feel like cloning should be better applied, like an army of Slanchs!

[CTV]