27th August 2013 Bizarre plan to clone the late Beatle John Lennon from DNA A Canadian dentist who purchased a tooth of John Lennon has agreed to work with US researchers to explore the late musician's DNA. If this venture is successful, the tooth collector wants to preserve the valuable information in the hope that it could be used at some point in the future to clone the famous Beatle.
John Lennon's tooth is going under the microscope in a US lab with scientists considering ways to obtain its genetic code from the fragile specimen owned by Canadian dentist-tooth collector Dr. Michael Zuk. "I am nervous and excited at the possibility that we will be able to fully sequence John Lennon's DNA, very soon I hope. With researchers working on how to clone mammoths, the same technology certainly could make human cloning a reality," says Dr. Zuk. The dentist first drew attention when purchasing the molar for $31,000 at a UK auction in 2011. He is standing firm with his conviction that the investment could be one of the best decisions of his life: "To potentially say I had a small part in bringing back one of Rock's greatest stars would be mind-blowing." Lennon gained worldwide fame as one of the Beatles, followed by a successful solo career which included songs such as "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine". Controversial with his political and peace activism, he moved to New York in 1971. He was shot dead outside his Manhattan apartment in 1980. Since being sold by the Beatle's former housekeeper, the molar has been featured in a number of charitable ventures including a tour of the UK to raise awareness of mouth cancer, a line of John Lennon DNA pendants, and TV appearances. The exact details of the scientific research are being kept confidential – but if sequencing is possible, the dentist has approved tests to be conducted to gain insight into Lennon's genes for a documentary on celebrity genetics.
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