Monkey Clones Created In China
- 6 years ago
Meet the two monkey clones created in China.
Scientists at Shanghai's Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Neuroscience have become the first to successfully make primate clones via somatic cell nuclear transfer. The genetically identical long-tailed macaques came into the world 8 and 6 weeks ago and as a result of the researchers' ability to overcome the species' natural resistance to the cloning method used. According to a release from Cell Press, that was accomplished by "introducing epigenetic modulators after the nuclear transfer that switch on or off the genes that are inhibiting embryo development. The researchers found their success rate increased by transferring nuclei taken from fetal differentiated cells, such as fibroblasts, a cell type in the connective tissue." Both macaques are reportedly doing well and developing normally for their age. More are expected to be born in the near future. While a copy of another primate was made in the past, the duplication means involved embryo splitting, which has a maximum yield of 4 per attempt. The release notes that the lab behind the most recent clones "is following strict international guidelines for animal research set by the US National Institutes of Health."
Scientists at Shanghai's Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Neuroscience have become the first to successfully make primate clones via somatic cell nuclear transfer. The genetically identical long-tailed macaques came into the world 8 and 6 weeks ago and as a result of the researchers' ability to overcome the species' natural resistance to the cloning method used. According to a release from Cell Press, that was accomplished by "introducing epigenetic modulators after the nuclear transfer that switch on or off the genes that are inhibiting embryo development. The researchers found their success rate increased by transferring nuclei taken from fetal differentiated cells, such as fibroblasts, a cell type in the connective tissue." Both macaques are reportedly doing well and developing normally for their age. More are expected to be born in the near future. While a copy of another primate was made in the past, the duplication means involved embryo splitting, which has a maximum yield of 4 per attempt. The release notes that the lab behind the most recent clones "is following strict international guidelines for animal research set by the US National Institutes of Health."