Genpets Online Support - FAQ's

Are Genpets Real animals? How?
Genpets are packaged like toys though.
How are Genpets made?
Is bioengineering this far advanced?
How do Genpets stay alive in the packages?
How do the Genpets breath in the packages?
Do Genpets feel pain?
What if I go on vacation?
Do Genpets show emotions?
Do Genpets Talk?
Do Genpets grow?
Where can I buy a Genpet?
When will the Genpets be available for purchase?
How much will Genpets cost? (msrp)
How long do Genpets live?
Do Genpets require batteries?
Do Genpets come out of the packages?
Do Genpets grow hair or fur?
Do Genpets bite?
Do Genpets open their eyes?
Do Genpets recognize their owner?
How are the personalities controlled?
Do Genpets walk on two legs or on all fours?
Do Genpets defecate?
What, and how do you feed a Genpet?
Can Genpets reproduce?
Do you have a reseller network?
Why haven’t I seen any commercials for Genpets on TV?
Can I obtain a sample Genpet for review or for feedback?
Why is there a forum for Genpet owners if Genpets are not yet for sale?
What do I do with my Genpet once it dies?
Can Genpets wear clothing?
Is Bio-Genica playing God?
Isn't it inhumane to pack the Genpets into packages with only small breathing holes?
Can Genpets become angry or violent?

NEW! (December 2008)
Can I feed my Genpet with something else?
What countries will Genpets be available in?
Do the Genpets require sleep?
Can you bathe Genpets?
Do the Genpets have brains?

Are Genpets Real animals? How?
Genpets are living, breathing mammals. Bio-Genica is a Bioengineering Company that has combined, and modified existing DNA to create the Genpets lineup. Genpets have blood, bones, and muscle; they will bleed if you cut them, and die if mistreated just like any other animal. The electronic components are only in the packages and are for basic life support, outside of the packages the Genpets are wholly organic.
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Genpets are packaged like toys though.
Genpets are designed to be sold on retail store shelves, not traditional pet stores. This is why they are packaged in plastic.
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How are Genpets made?
The original prototype and breeding Genpets were created using a process called "Zygote Micro Injection" Thereafter the Genpets are grown in assisted breeding lab farms. Zygote Micro Injection is quickly becoming a favourable method to combine DNA, or to insert certain proteins from different species. Most notably it was used in 1997 to splice mice with bioluminescent jellyfish (link) and has since been used to create glowing rabbits, pigs, fish, and monkeys (link). Since then, human DNA has been injected into chimpanzees, spider into sheep, and now, Genpets have arrived.
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Is bioengineering this far advanced?
In 2003 Human DNA was successfully combined with rabbit (and other animals), to create successful Chimera Hybrids. Read National Geographic for more information (link). While Bio-Gencia is still awaiting approval for worldwide distributionof the Genpets, Allerca already sells genetically altered cats.
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How do Genpets stay alive in the packages?
While the Genpets™ hang on retail shelves they are in a chemically induced type of hibernation controlled by a protein in the packages’ nutrient supply tubes. This was a natural trait found in many seasonal animals that would normally hibernate in colder northern climates that has been added to the Genpet line. This also ensures comfort for the Genpets™ while they are on store shelves.
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How do the Genpets breath in the packages?
There are vent holes on the side of the package that allow filtered air to pass.
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Do Genpets feel pain?
Yes. However the Genpets have limited vocal chords so they will not create a large amount of noise when disturbed.
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What if I go on vacation?
The same protein that keeps the Genpet dormant on store shelves can be supplied at anytime during the life span of the Genpet making care for the pet incredibly simple.
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Do Genpets show emotions?
Yes. This is part of why we have colour coded the Genpets. They come in seven different personality types. Each personality type shows slightly different emotions.
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Do Genpets Talk?
Genpets have limited vocal chords for the convenience of parents. However, they do make some sound.
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Do Genpets grow?
Genpets come fully-grown in their packaging.
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When will the Genpets be available for purchase?
As soon as possible!
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How much will Genpets cost? (msrp)
This has yet to be set; however, we feel the Genpets will be very competitively priced.
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How long do Genpets live?
Genpets come in two basic configurations, 1 and 3 year models. See our Meet section.
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Do Genpets require batteries?
No, the Genpets are living animals. The power source used is only for the life monitoring devices within the package.
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Do Genpets come out of the packages?
Yes, after purchase Genpets can be removed from their package; we will soon be doing a photo shoot to make this more clear through the website. Think of Genpets as living dolls. Genpets are designed to move more like a newborn human child, thus their range of motion is rather limited.
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Do Genpets grow hair or fur?
Very Little. Genpets only grow a small amount of hair under their armpits. The Genpets are designed to resemble human babies and be hypo allergenic.
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Do Genpets bite?
Genpets should not bite, however Bio-Genica does sell the tooth remover kit.
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Do Genpets open their eyes?
Yes, upon removing a Genpet from the package the pet will slowly wake up over the course of approximately 20minutes.
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Do Genpets recognize their owner?
Yes. Upon waking up a Genpet will bond to its owner and recognize that person for the remainder of their lifecycle.
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How are the personalities controlled?
The Genpet feeding packs are color coded and specially formulated with a custom drug mixture that can be used to control the Genpet, much like human drugs can such as Ritalin or Lithium and other behaviour modifying drugs. Thus we can calm them, or stimulate them without extra tampering to the DNA structure.
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Do Genpets walk on two legs or on all fours?
As stated, Genpets have limited mobility and react more as an infant child, expect a Genpet to 'wiggle' more than it will crawl.
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Do Genpets defecate?
As Genpets produce little waste, and therefore also require only sparse feeding making them a perfect pet.
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What, and how do you feed a Genpet?
Bio-Genica, as well as retail partners, sell a special nutrient pack for the Genpets that need only be administered once per week.
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Can Genpets reproduce?
No. The consumer Genpets cannot reproduce.
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Do you have a reseller network?
Yes. If you are interested in becoming a reseller, please complete our Reseller Application form and a Bio-Genica representative will contact you shortly.
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Can I obtain a sample Genpet for review or for feedback?
Unfortunetly not. Due to legal limitations we cannot send out samples of the Genpets.
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Why is there a forum for Genpet owners if Genpets are not yet for sale?
A select number of Genpets have been released to Bio-Genica employees for Beta Testing. This is not a public release.
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What do I do with my Genpet once it dies?
A Genpet can be buried in your backyard like any other pet, or they can be sent back to a Bio-genica service center for bio recycling.
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Can Genpets wear clothing?
Bio-Genica does not produce Genpet clothing, however, you are welcome to create your own Genpet clothing if you wish.
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Is Bio-Genica playing God?
A question we unfortunately receive far too often. The collie, the poodle, the common house cat, the ferret, and countless other animals have been bred by human beings over the last few thousand years long before bioengineering.
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Isn't it inhumane to pack the Genpets into packages with only small breathing holes?
While the Genpets are in their packages they are clean, well fed, and most importantly asleep. Now compare this to the current pet store situation where multiple animals are encased in small cages or glass aquariums together, not always fed or cleaned regularly, and going over the trauma of hundreds of people poking and taping at the cages, small children screaming, birds chirping, and all the smells that may not bother your nose, but are far more intense for a small animal. Bio-Genica has developed the most humane form of pet transport that is beneficial to both the you and your Genpet.
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Can Genpets become angry or violent?
The Genpets are designed to be docile, combined with that, the nutrient packs keep them well tempered. If a Genpet were to be taken off of its nutrient pack it would die long before any behavioural issues could develop as the nutrient packs are also the Genpets sole source of food.
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Can I feed my Genpet with something else?
This is not advised. Feeding a Genpet with something other than a Bio-Genica nutrient pack would result in death of the Genpet. The Bio-Genica designed Genpet nutrient packs contain special proteins that the Genpet requires to survive. Also of note is that nutrient packs cannot be mixed. A red Genpet can only accept a red nutrient pack. See the product manual for more information.
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What countries will Genpets be available in?
Bio-Genica is still developing reseller connections and government approval; however we hope to be able to offer Genpets to every corner of the globe.
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Do the Genpets require sleep?
Similar to Ferrets, Genpets will sleep approximately 18 hours of the day, making them very easy to take care of (unlike ferrets).
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Can you bathe Genpets?
Yes! Please see the product manual for more information.
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Do the Genpets have brains?
Like all mammals Genpets have brains. Again, Genpets are living creatures.
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** If your question is not one of the Frequently Asked Questions answered here, please visit out Technical Support page and one of our customer service representatives will get back to you shortly.