Dentist plans to clone John Lennon using DNA extracted from tooth

A Canadian dentist who owns one of John Lennon's teeth plans to extract DNA from it in an attempt to clone him.

Dr. Michael Zuk bought the tooth at a UK auction for almost £20,000 two years ago.

He hopes to team up with American scientists in order to create a full-blown Lennon clone.

Speaking to US website The Examiner, Dr Zuk said: “If scientists think they can clone mammoths, then John Lennon could be next… To potentially say I had a small part in bringing back one of rock's greatest stars would be mind-blowing”.

He added: “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 ways to clone mammoths, the same technology certainly could make human cloning a reality”.

Lennon, who was shot dead by New Yorker Mark Chapman in 1980, had originally given the rotten tooth to his housekeeper Dot Jarlett in the 1960s.