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URL:
http://www.theworldjournal.com/2002/easterclones_print.htm Print Date: |
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URL:
http://www.theworldjournal.com/2002/easterclones_print.htm Print Date: |
| Easter Clones! By Matthew Knott, TheWorldJournal.com This Easter you may be getting more Easter Bunny's than you expected after the cloning of 6 adult rabbits. The team of scientists based at the French National Institute for Agriculture Research are the first to successfully clone adult cells. The process works by removing the central nucleus from a female rabbit's egg (ovum) and fusing it with a 'cumulus cell' - cells emptied of their DNA. The cells are then matures in a surrogate mother and brought to maturation as a cloned rabbit! However, like many Genetic engineering experiments - the process is not that simple and the success rate low. Many of the cells did not survive to full maturation and of the six final clones, only four survived with two kits dying shortly after birth. Scientists at the institute claim that the surviving bunnies are showing normal growth and two have already proved their worth as rabbits producing litters of seven and eight. This low success rate is one of the main factors holding up the cloning of human beings, for 2 babies to die after birth would not be as acceptable as for rabbits! So other than being an interesting Easter themed experiment, what else is the use of cloning rabbits? The team say that when linked with genetic modification the clones would prove useful in medical research as they are much larger than the traditional "Lab - Rat" and are closer relatives to humans in evolutionary terms. Other more imaginative uses are said to be drug production by genetically modified mammals in their milk! It is hoped such drugs could be on the market within 5 years, with trials already being carried out on antibodies in rabbit milk to treat kidney cancer and Hodgkin's disease - a form of Lymphatic cancer. The advantages for cloning are clear to see and there is no doubt that this technology will be part of our future whether it is for medical rabbits milk or designer babies. And as the rabbit joins the cloning hall of fame along with Dolly the Sheep and Cc the Cat who knows what will be next through the Genetic Photocopier? © March 30, 2002 |
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