DOLLY THE SHEEP – THE FIRST CLONED
ADULT ANIMAL
NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR
IMPROVING LIVESTOCK
From Squidonius via Wikimedia Commons
In 1996, University of Edinburgh scientists celebrated the
birth of Dolly the Sheep, the first mammal to be cloned using
adult somatic cells. The Edinburgh team’s success followed
its improvements to the single cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)
technique used in the cloning process.
Dolly became a scientific icon recognised worldwide and
SCNT technology has spread around the world and has been
used to clone multiple farm animals.
The cloning of livestock enables growing large quantities of
the most productive, disease resistant animals, thus providing
more food and other animal products.
Sir Ian Wilmut (Inaugural Director of MRC Centre for
Regeneration and Professor at CMVM, UoE) and colleagues
worked on methods to create genetically improved livestock
by manipulation of stem cells using nuclear transfer. Their
research optimised interactions between the donor nucleus
and the recipient cytoplasm at the time of fusion and during
the first cell cycle. Nuclear donor cells were held in mitosis
before being released and used as they were expected to be
passing through G1 phase.
SCNT cloning is the only technology
available that enables generation of 99.8%
genetically identical offspring from selected
individuals of adult animals (including
sterilized animals). As such, it is being
exploited as an efficient multiplication tool
to support specific breeding strategies of
farm animals with exceptionally high genetic
value. CLONING IN COMMERCE,
AGRICULTURE AND PRESERVATION
OF LIVESTOCK DIVERSITY
By Slooby via Wikimedia Commons
SCNT technology has been widely adopted and used to
create clones of other animals (e.g. cows, deer, ferrets, goats,
horses, mice, mules, pigs, wolves, rats, rabbits, monkeys
and water buffalo). Multiple companies offering cloning
technology have been established (e.g. Korean RNL Bio, US
based BioArts and Kheiron in Argentina) and cloning plays an
important role in the animal-breeding industry. Cloned ponies
have fetched up to $800,000 at auction (Argentina) and in
2012, the Fédération Equestre Internationale lifted its ban on
cloned horses participating in competitions. First orders for
commercial pet dog cloning were completed by RNL Bio and
US firm BioArts in 2008.
In 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration decided that
meat produced from clones and their progeny is acceptable
for human consumption. Similar conclusions have been
drawn by European Food Safety Authority. However,
animal cloning for food production in Europe meets with
considerable opposition; use of cloned animals is more
accepted and widespread in Asia and America.
Cloning from frozen somatic tissue is a more cost-effective
strategy for bio-banking of endangered breeds than storage
of sperm or egg cells. Sample collection and storage is
easier and cheaper, the technique can be deployed quickly in
emergency situations such as a disease outbreak and cloning
recovers all the genetic variation of the donor – not just half
of it as when using sperm. SCNT cloning of farm animals
is a common new service in some countries including the
USA, Argentina and Brazil and is covered by major veterinary
genetics and animal biotechnology textbooks
CONSERVATION OF
ANIMAL BREEDS
Cloning has been used to conserve
several animal breeds in the recent past.
For example in 2012 an increasingly
rare Himalayan pashmina goat breed
was successfully cloned. This important
achievement, performed in the frame of the
National Agricultural Innovation Project of
the Indian Council of Agricultural Research,
offers hope to the people of Kashmir of
increasing production of pashmina; a type
of cashmere wool. In Kashmir more than
10 million people are associated with $85
million shawl industry that depends on the
availability of the exceptionally fine wool
produced by these rare animals.
CONTACT
The Roslin Institute
The University of Edinburgh
Easter Bush Campus
Midlothian, EH25 9RG
T: 0131 651 9100
E: info@roslin.ed.ac.uk
www.roslin.ed.ac.uk
Dolly the Sheep – the First Cloned Adult Animal
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