For the first time, scientists in China have achieved the successful cloning of a rhesus monkey, a primate species known for its close genetic similarity to humans. This milestone, more than 25 years after the cloning of Dolly the sheep, utilized somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to create a genetically identical copy from somatic cells of a rhesus monkey. The healthy male rhesus monkey has thrived for over two years since its birth in Beijing, marking a significant advancement in primate cloning.
Although this achievement raises possibilities for further research on human health, experts emphasize the ethical and safety concerns associated with human cloning, considering it currently unjustifiable. The successful cloning of a rhesus monkey through SCNT opens new avenues for primate cloning, as highlighted in the paper published on January 16 in Nature Communications by Qiang Sun and colleagues at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.
The SCNT technique involves transferring the DNA of a somatic cell, such as a skin cell, into an egg cell with its nucleus removed. This process leads to the reprogramming of genetic material, enabling the formation of a cloned embryo with a healthy placenta for growth. While SCNT has previously succeeded in cloning various mammalian species, this breakthrough offers promising prospects for advancing primate cloning research.
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