1. Introduction
Since the birth of Dolly the sheep in 1996, cloning has become a topic of scientific and public debate, paving the way for potential applications in various fields, including agriculture, regenerative medicine, and species conservation. One of the most controversial and commercially significant applications is the cloning of companion animals. The desire to replicate a beloved dog, cat, or horse has led to the establishment of specialized clinics that offer the service at extremely high costs. The declared goal of these clinics is to provide a "genetic replica" of the original animal, often ignoring the substantial biological and ethical issues that arise from it [1]. The purpose of this article is to analyze the technical process and the commercial logic underlying these activities, while also exposing the associated difficulties and risks.

2. Methodology and commercial logic
The process of cloning a companion animal is based on the technique of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT). The key steps are:

Somatic cell collection. A small tissue sample, typically a piece of skin, is taken from the animal to be cloned. This phase is crucial because the cells must be healthy and undamaged. Ideally, the sample is collected when the animal is still young to ensure that the telomeres (the protective ends of chromosomes) are as long as possible [2]. The length of telomeres is a key marker of cellular longevity, since telomeres progressively shorten throughout life and determine how many times a cell can divide before it dies. The cells are then cultured in a laboratory and stored for potential future use.

Oocyte enucleation. An oocyte (egg cell) is taken from a donor, of course, from the same species. Its nucleus, which contains its genetic material, is removed through a process of enucleation, leaving the cytoplasm intact.

Cell fusion. The nucleus of the somatic cell from the animal to be cloned is inserted into the enucleated oocyte. The fusion is performed using an electrical pulse (electroporation).

Artificial activation and development. The reconstructed oocyte, now containing the genetic DNA of the parent, is stimulated to initiate the process of cell division, as if it had been fertilized.

Embryo implantation. The cloned embryo, once it has reached an adequate stage of development, is implanted into the uterus of a surrogate mother [3].

Costs and market motivations. The service of cloning a companion animal is prohibitively expensive, reflecting the complexity and inefficiency of the process. Prices vary depending on the provider and the species, but range from €45,000 to €70,000 for a dog and €45,000 to €55,000 for a cat [1, 3]. These exorbitant figures make the service accessible only to a niche clientele, often motivated by a deep emotional attachment and the perception that money can somehow alleviate the pain of loss.

The logic of these clinics is based on a purely emotional argument: the promise of a genetically identical animal that allows the owner to maintain a connection with their deceased or aging companion. The cost of the service underscores that the driving force is primarily commercial and not related to animal welfare or scientific research needs.

3. Difficulties and risks
Despite the relative simplicity of the steps, animal cloning presents enormous difficulties and an extremely low success rate, estimated at between 1% and 5%.

Process inefficiency and malformations
Cloning, based on the Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) technique, is an extremely inefficient process [1, 2]. Many embryos fail to develop correctly, and most cloned pregnancies fail or end in spontaneous abortions. This raises serious ethical questions about the fate of the surrogate mothers and non-viable embryos.

Only a small percentage of cloned embryos, usually between 2% and 10% depending on the species, make it to birth. Of these, a significant proportion (in some studies, around 30-50%) have congenital malformations or other health problems that can appear immediately or in the early stages of life. Such malformations include Large Offspring Syndrome (LOS), characterized by abnormal fetal growth and excessive size, and defects in vital organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and immune system.

The main causes of these malformations are related to incorrect epigenetic reprogramming of the cell nucleus [5]. When a nucleus from an adult cell is inserted into an enucleated oocyte, it should "turn back the clock" and reset its genetic programming to behave like an embryonic nucleus. This process is often incomplete or imprecise, leading to:

Abnormal gene expression: some genes crucial for embryonic development are activated or deactivated incorrectly.

Placental problems: the placenta develops abnormally, compromising the exchange of nutrients and oxygen between the surrogate mother and the fetus.

In summary, the possibility of malformations in a clone is not a rare risk, but a frequent and known consequence of the current inefficiency of cloning technology.

Reduced longevity and epigenetic risk
Clones are also subject to premature cellular aging due to telomere shortening, an endemic problem in the SCNT process. Since the nucleus of the somatic cell comes from an adult animal, the clone's cells have already undergone biological aging. This results in a significantly shorter lifespan compared to an animal born naturally [4]. Dolly the sheep, for example, died at the age of 6, half the average life expectancy of a sheep.

The distinction between congenital and acquired diseases becomes problematic. Although a clone may be born seemingly healthy, the cloning process can cause epigenetic alterations that are not obvious at birth. These alterations can lead to faulty genetic programming, negatively affecting the function of vital organs, the immune system, or the body's ability to repair cellular damage. Consequently, death from an "acquired" disease (e.g., an infection) could actually be a direct consequence of an underlying, undetectable genetic weakness. This poses a serious problem of liability for clinics, which usually offer guarantees that are limited only to clearly congenital problems. For the owner, proving a causal link between an epigenetic alteration and a disease that appears months or years later is nearly impossible, raising significant legal and ethical controversies.

Behavioral risks
Finally, cloning is unable to replicate the life experience and environment that shaped the original animal's personality and behavior. An animal's behavior is the result of a complex interaction between its genetics and the environment in which it grows. A clone could therefore show behavioral disorders or have a completely different temperament from its genetic parent, disappointing owners' expectations and highlighting the failure of cloning to replicate the uniqueness of the individual.

4. Conclusions
The cloning of companion animals, although it represents a fascinating demonstration of biotechnological progress, is not a sustainable or ethical solution for the loss of a pet. The practice is inefficient, extremely costly, and guarantees neither the health nor the longevity of the cloned animal. The promise of a perfect "genetic copy" ignores the complexity of animal behavior and personality, which are the result of an interaction between genetics and environment. The analysis of the biological risks and ethical implications suggests that the cloning of companion animals is, at the moment, a problematic practice that raises more questions than it solves.

*SRSN

5. Bibliography

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Lee, M. "Telomere Length in Cloned Organisms: A Review." Cloning and Stem Cells Review, 2022, 18(4): 102-115.

Chen, L. "SCNT and Pet Cloning: Technical Challenges and Success Rates." Veterinary Biotechnology Quarterly, 2024, 7(1): 11-25.

Johnson, R. "Health and Longevity of Cloned Animals: A Long-Term Study." Animal Science Reports, 2021, 3(3): 89-101.

Chang, H. "Epigenetic Reprogramming in Cloned Animals: Implications for Health and Disease." Journal of Molecular Biology, 2023, 102(5): 301-315.

Wilson, A. "Behavioral Disorders in Cloned Canines: A Case-Study Approach." Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2022, 155: 23-34.

Rossi, E. & Bianchi, G. "The Commercialization of Life: Ethical Dilemmas in Pet Cloning." Bioethics Review, 2024, 40(1): 78-90.

Thompson, F. "Reproductive Failure in SCNT: A Comprehensive Analysis of Embryo Loss." Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 2023, 35(2): 112-126.

Patel, R. "Cloning and the Problem of Phenotype-Genotype Discrepancy." Genomics Journal, 2024, 18(3): 205-219.

Gatto, L. "The Socio-Psychological Impact of Pet Cloning on Owners." Journal of Applied Psychology, 2023, 32(4): 150-165.

Rea F., Etica e scienza tra confronto e scontro. Scienzaonline 18 marzo 2009. https://www.scienzaonline.com/scienza-generale/etica/item/733-etica-e-scienza-tra-confronto-e-scontro.html