### The Ascent and Decline of Arthur Schubarth: Cloning, Preservation, and Dispute
In the arena of scientific advancements, few occurrences have captivated the public’s attention quite like the arrival of Dolly the sheep in 1996. Dolly, a Finn-Dorset sheep, became the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, representing a groundbreaking advancement in biotechnology. This achievement not only unlocked new avenues in medicine and agriculture but also ignited ethical discussions that persist today. Jump ahead to 2024, and the narrative surrounding cloning has taken a more troubling turn, highlighted by the case of Arthur Schubarth, an elderly rancher sentenced to six months in federal prison for unlawfully cloning a rare type of wild sheep.
### Dolly: A Landmark in Science
To grasp the importance of Schubarth’s situation, it’s crucial to look back at the beginnings of animal cloning. Dolly was created using a method known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). In this procedure, researchers take a somatic cell—any cell in the body apart from sperm and egg cells—and extract its nucleus, which holds the complete DNA of the organism. This nucleus is then placed into an unfertilized egg cell that has been stripped of its genetic material. Following a brief electric shock to kickstart cell division, the egg is implanted in a surrogate mother, and if all goes according to plan, a clone emerges.
Dolly’s emergence demonstrated that even adult somatic cells could be reprogrammed to form a complete organism, a discovery that transformed the domain of developmental biology. Yet, the repercussions of this technology soon went beyond research labs, as commercial entities started to investigate the profit potential of cloning.
### The Marketization of Cloning
Once the technology became available, cloning swiftly migrated into the commercial sector. Companies initiated cloning services for various uses, from preserving cherished pets to duplicating high-value livestock. The process was streamlined: clients could forward cells to a cloning firm, which would generate embryos and store them until needed for implantation. This service-oriented model made cloning more achievable, but it also paved the way for illicit and unethical applications of the technology.
### The Argali Sheep: A Hunter’s Ultimate Prize
Arthur Schubarth, the key figure in this narrative, operated a 215-acre game farm in Montana known as Sun River Enterprises. His enterprise focused on raising mountain sheep and goats, often sold to game ranches where hunters paid to stalk and kill them for recreation. Within the realm of big-game hunting, few creatures are as coveted as the **Marco Polo argali** (*Ovis ammon polii*), a subspecies of the argali sheep. Indigenous to the mountainous terrains of Central Asia, these sheep are the largest in existence, with males reaching weights up to 300 pounds and bearing impressive, spiraling horns.
For trophy hunters, the argali is essential to achieving the “Ovis World Slam,” a challenge that necessitates hunters to take at least 12 distinct species of wild sheep. However, the argali is registered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and is safeguarded by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This classification renders it illegal to import or trade argali sheep without appropriate permits, which are often challenging to procure.
### The Unlawful Cloning Scheme
Schubarth identified a profitable chance to introduce argali sheep into the United States for breeding larger animals for local hunters. However, instead of utilizing legal avenues, Schubarth chose a more secretive route. In 2012, he dispatched his son on a hunting expedition to Kyrgyzstan, where the younger Schubarth murdered an argali and smuggled its remains back to the U.S. without declaration. Unfortunately, the tissue samples were inadequate for cloning, leading his son to take a second trip in 2013, successfully bringing back usable material.
With the somatic cells ready, Schubarth established a “cell storage agreement” with an undisclosed cloning company in 2013. Two years later, he finalized an “Ovine Cloning Contract” and paid a $4,200 deposit to initiate the cloning process. In 2016, Schubarth received 165 cloned argali embryos, which he implanted into surrogate sheep at his Montana ranch. By 2017, the first cloned Marco Polo argali was born, a male he named “Montana Mountain King.”
### The Cloning Empire
Schubarth’s operation quickly grew. He started collecting semen from Montana Mountain King to inseminate local ewes, producing hybrid sheep that were larger and more appealing to hunters. He also marketed “straws” of semen to clients in Texas and permitted ranchers from across the nation to transport their sheep to Montana for insemination.
