Throw the Dog a Clone

The underwear bomber fallout is far from over. Panties are in a twist. Airport security is in question. Extreme and controversial safeguards are being contemplated around the globe. Flying will never be the same. But South Korean scientists may be on to something—an interesting alternative to the full-body scan—a full-body sniff.

The world’s first team of cloned, drug-sniffing police dogs was unleashed in South Korean airports last year. Now, scientists are back to work. This time, engineering the explosive-sniffing kind.

According to english.sina.com, the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation used the genetic makeup of a K9 named Quinn to make the carbon-copy canines. The German Shepherd first shot to fame after bringing a 30,000-person manhunt to a close in just 20 minutes after it found the body of a missing child.

The litter of cloned canines is due in months.

Until the issues of privacy and health effects of full-body scanners are fully investigated, perhaps threats like the diaper bomber could be thwarted by K9s doing what they do best—sniffing butt. At least there’s no margin for human error.