Fed: Aussie scientists create world's first cloned cow using new method

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2005
Fed: Aussie scientists create world's first cloned cow using new method

Australian scientists have unveiled the world's first cow cloned through a technique
known as serial nuclear transfer.

BRANDY, a two-month-old healthy Holstein-Fresian calf, was created by researchers from
Monash Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne and the Genetics Australia Co-operative.

Head researcher, PhD post graduate VANESSA HALL, says the method has been used to clone
mice and pigs before, but this is the first bovine.





The regular method used to clone animals involves inserting a single donor cell into
an egg, with its DNA removed, and implanting the subsequent embryo into a surrogate mother
for gestation.

But when using the serial nuclear transfer method, scientists fuse nutrients from a
recently fertilised egg to the cloned embryo before it's placed in the surrogate, thus
enhancing remodelling of the DNA.

AAP RTV mj/gfr/lm/rt

KEYWORD: BRANDY (MELBOURNE)

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