Tom Brady Reveals Dog is a Clone of Late Pet

Six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady announced today that his current dog, Junie, is a clone of his beloved pit bull mix, Lua, who passed away in December 2023.

Brady made the announcement in a statement released by Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology firm focused on genetic engineering and de-extinction, in which he revealed he is an investor. He explained he “worked with Colossal” to utilize their cloning technology, which requires only a simple blood draw from the original animal. The announcement coincided with Colossal’s acquisition of Viagen Pets and Equine, marking the company’s first major acquisition since being valued at $10 billion.

“I love my animals,” Brady said in the statement. “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.” Lua was adopted by Brady and his former wife, Gisele Bündchen, during their marriage, which ended in 2022. Colossal Biosciences has previously claimed success in using similar techniques to birth three dire wolf pups, though those claims have been disputed by some in the scientific community, like the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The development highlights the growing accessibility of pet cloning technology and raises ethical questions about the practice. Colossal Biosciences aims to eventually apply its technology to revive extinct species, a goal that requires significant scientific advancement and a deep understanding of genetics.

Company officials stated they will continue to refine their cloning processes and explore further applications of the technology.