An international auction will be held for rights to name three cloned goats, the first generation of cloned animals in China's business and commercial center Shanghai.
The research center that produced the kids has fielded numerous calls, sparking the idea to offer the ability to name the goats to the highest bidding individual or company.
The three goats, born at the end of last year by cloning an adult animal cell, form the basis for the further development in ways to treat and protect animals and foster fine species.
Director Cheng Guoxiang of the research center, who led the goat cloning experiment, decided against the usual practice of naming the goats after himself.
The international auction will bring broad social support for the development of cloning technology.
(China Daily 08/08/2001)
