Monkeys cloned with breakthrough technology

Will Knight ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 14 Jan 2000 17:29 GMT

The cloning of monkeys has finally been achieved by researchers at the University of Oregon, who employed revolutionary new technology to achieve the multiplication of the creatures.

The technique used is radically different from that employed by the scientists at Scotland's Roslin Institute, who famously cloned Dolly the sheep. The technique could pave the way toward the cloning of humans, since monkeys' genetic makeup is more similar to that of homo sapiens than that of sheep.

Only one living rhesus macaque monkey has so far been produced, although scientists promise that four more animals will be soon be created. Genetics experts at the University of Oregon split a monkey embryo at a very early stage an then infused it into separate "mother" animals. The technique is in fact very similar to the process employed in Aldous Huxley's famous futuristic novel Brave New World.

The creation of multiple monkeys is meant to facilitate research into human diseases and animal behaviour. Dr. John Strandberg with the National Institutes of Health told the press: "I can't think of a single kind of monkey-based research that wouldn't benefit from using identical animals."

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