Human Cloning Foundation Hails Selection of Snuppy the Dog as Most Amazing Invention of the Year

The Human Cloning Foundation today hailed the selection of Snuppy, the first-ever cloned dog, as Time magazine's most amazing invention of 2005.

"Time magazine's selection of Snuppy as the invention of the year is great news. It is a clear indication that the prestigious publication recognizes stem cell research as a science whose time has come," said David Madrigal, Human Cloning Foundation spokesman. "We commend Time, particularly the magazine's technology, science and health writers, for bestowing Snuppy with this honor."

Snuppy, a five-month old Afghan hound, is the brainchild of Professor Woo Suk Hwang, who headed a 45-man team at the Seoul National University that cloned the puppy. Snuppy is only the world's second cloned mammal, following in the footsteps of Dolly the sheep.

The Human Cloning Foundation said Snuppy's genes originated from a single cell derived from the ear of an adult Afghan and not from the traditional manner of combining the egg and sperm of a mother and father.

Snuppy appears prominently on Time magazine's cover this month. Other inventions featured in the magazine include a bicycle with a hydrogen-powered fuel-cell engine, a one-time use video camcorder, and a robotic cat that recognizes speech commands.