The Dentist That Bought John Lennon’s Tooth So He Could Clone Him

Back in the late 1960s, John Lennon handed his housekeeper, Dot Jarlett, a decaying molar—yes, a tooth. According to reports, he told her to pass it along to her daughter, who was a big Beatles fan. That quirky little souvenir ended up sticking around for decades—until 2011, when it hit the auction block.

It sold for £19,500 (about $31,000) through Omega Auctions in Stockport. The buyer? A Canadian dentist named Dr. Michael Zuk, who had something far more ambitious in mind than just owning a piece of rock history.

“I Want to Clone John Lennon”

Zuk, a dentist from Red Deer, Alberta, wasn’t interested in just displaying the molar on his shelf. His bold goal: extract Lennon’s DNA and—someday—clone him.

“Many Beatles fans remember where they were when they heard John Lennon was shot. I hope they also live to hear the day he was given another chance,” Zuk said. He sent the tooth off to a U.S. lab, where researchers were exploring ways to extract its genetic material. “I am nervous and excited at the possibility that we will be able to fully sequence John Lennon’s DNA,” he added.

“With researchers working on ways to clone mammoths, the same technology certainly could make human cloning a reality.”

At the time of the auction, Omega noted the tooth was “too fragile” for DNA testing. But Zuk remained hopeful, saying:

“To say I had a small part in bringing back one of rock’s greatest stars would be mind-blowing.”

Tooth Dust and Beatle Bling

While waiting for science to catch up with his dream, Zuk got creative. He used “tooth dust” to make a line of Lennon-inspired jewelry and a sculpture. He also put out a parody song called Love Me Tooth, published a photo book of celebrity smiles, and launched initiatives to promote oral cancer awareness.

So far, there’s been no word on “John Lennon 2.0.” But Zuk’s plan remains one of the strangest—and most talked-about—examples of Beatlemania taken to a whole new level.