BRAK FROM THE DEAD

Former NFL star Tom Brady revealed his beloved pit bull mix, Junie, is actually a clone. Yes, you read that right.

Junie was created using a blood sample from Brady’s late dog, Lua, through Colossal Biosciences, a venture-backed biotech company that’s redefining what “man’s best friend” means in the age of genetic engineering.

Brady shared in a statement that Junie was cloned using noninvasive technology shortly before Lua’s passing in 2023.

He said: “I love my animals. They mean the world to me and my family. 

 “A few years ago, I worked with Colossal and leveraged their non-invasive cloning technology through a simple blood draw of our family's elderly dog before she passed.”

Brady continued, saying the company “gave my family a second chance with a clone of our beloved dog”.

And while the resemblance between Junie and Lua is uncanny, the revelation has left fans and ethicists divided and curious about where we draw the line between science, sentiment, and playing god.

Spoiler alert: It is. And it’s not just Brady. Celebrities like Paris Hilton and Barbra Streisand have also jumped on the cloning bandwagon, giving their furry companions a second chance at life.

The process reportedly costs $50 000 (around R865 185). 

Colossal Biosciences, the self-proclaimed “de-extinction” company, has big dreams and even bigger funding. 

Valued at $10.2 billion (R176.49 billion), this Texas-based biotech giant isn’t just cloning celebrity pets, they also plan to resurrect extinct species like the woolly mammoth and the “dire wolf”.