Canadian dentist Dr Michael Zuk has outlined his plans to clone John Lennon using DNA from the singer’s tooth.
Speaking to Channel 4‘s Dead Famous DNA, Dr Zuk told presenter Mark Evans: “He could be looked at as my son.”
Dr Zuk, who lives in Alberta, Canada, bought the wisdom tooth for nearly £20,000 at an auction two years ago. It was previously in the possession of Lennon’s housekeeper. However, he accepted that the technology to clone the singer is not currently available to him.
Explaining how he would raise the potential clone, Dr Zuk said: “He would still be his exact duplicate but you know, hopefully keep him away from drugs and cigarettes, that kind of thing.”
He added: “But you know, guitar lessons wouldn’t hurt anyone right?”
The dentist also appears to believe that the clone could make a claim on Lennon’s estate, saying: “I don’t think I would be the one, you know, owning his property, he would have the rights when he was old enough to make er, make a claim.”
Referring to possible legal restrictions, Dr Zuk added: “[It] depends where you do these things. If it can’t be done in one country you can do these things in another.”
The dentist even suggested that he could clone Lennon multiple times.
He said: “Well, if it works once it’s going to work again, right?”