Lexi Webster
Cloning is a scientific technique that has been used to create copies of various animals, and it involves removing the genetic material from an unfertilized egg and replacing it with the genetic material of the animal to be cloned. This process has been carried out in several countries, including Australia, which lifted its ban on cloning in 2002. There are about 30-40 cloned animals in Australia, all of which are cattle, and they are used for breeding purposes. While cloning has been suggested as a method for restoring extinct species, it is not without its ethical concerns and has been associated with animal suffering and premature death.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of cloned animals in Australia | 30-40 (all cattle) |
| Purpose of cloned animals in Australia | Breeding |
| Common cloning method | Removing the genetic material from an unfertilized egg and replacing it with the complete genetic material from the animal to be cloned |
| First cloned animal | Sheep |
| First cloned animal for commercial purposes | Starbuck II, a clone of Holstein breeding bull Hanoverhill Starbuck |
| Country where cloning occurs the most | Argentina, Brazil and the USA |
| Cloning technique | Somatic cell nuclear transfer |
| Cloned animals used for | Medicine production |
| Cloned animals that have been created | Frogs, mice, sheep, cows, cats, dogs, pigs, banteng calf, horses, donkeys, goats, cattle, coyotes |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's first cloned sheep
Australia has made significant contributions to the field of cloning, with its first cloned sheep playing a pivotal role in scientific advancements. While the specific details of Australia's first cloned sheep are scarce, it is clear that the country has actively pursued cloning research and contributed to the global discourse on this subject.
In 2000, sources mention Australia's first cloned sheep and calf, indicating that the country had successfully ventured into animal cloning. This event sparked discussions among critics and supporters of cloning technology in Australia. SARDI's Rob Lewis emphasized the economic benefits of cloning, arguing that Australia's prosperity has been built on enhancing the quality of its sheep and cattle. He asserted the need to remain competitive in the international market and leverage cloning to produce desired traits. On the other hand, Bob Phelps challenged the ethical implications, questioning whether turning animals into factories for human ends is justifiable.
While the name and specific details of Australia's first cloned sheep remain unknown, it is clear that this event fueled the ongoing debate surrounding the ethics and potential benefits of cloning technology. This debate continued as Australia lifted its ban on therapeutic cloning research in 2002, allowing scientists to explore the creation of cloned embryos for research purposes.
Although Australia's first cloned sheep may not have garnered the same fame as Dolly, the world's first cloned sheep, it is evident that Australia has actively participated in cloning research and contributed to the global dialogue surrounding this controversial yet promising scientific endeavor. Dolly, created at the Roslin Institute in Scotland, was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell, attracting worldwide attention and sparking ethical concerns.
In conclusion, while the specifics of Australia's first cloned sheep remain elusive, the country has undoubtedly played a role in the development and exploration of cloning technology. The ethical, economic, and scientific implications of cloning continue to be a subject of debate, with Australia at the forefront of these discussions.
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Cloning to improve food production
Cloning has been used by scientists since the 1950s, with the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell being Dolly the sheep in 1996. Since then, other sheep have been cloned from adult cells, as have mice, rabbits, horses and donkeys, pigs, goats and cattle. Cloning creates a genetically identical copy of an animal or plant.
The commercial use of cloned animals in agriculture has so far been largely restricted to the meat and dairy industries. The most common cloning method involves removing the genetic material from an unfertilised egg and replacing it with the complete genetic material from the animal to be cloned (the donor animal). The egg is then implanted into a surrogate mother, who gives birth to a clone of the donor animal. The cloned animal is then bred with other animals to pass on its desirable characteristics.
Cloning can be used to improve food production by creating animals with desirable characteristics, such as a natural resistance to diseases that can be transferred in meat. For example, in 2000, Texas A&M University cloned a Black Angus bull named 86 Squared, after cells from his donor, Bull 86, had been frozen for 15 years. Both bulls exhibit a natural resistance to brucellosis, tuberculosis, and other diseases transferable through meat. Cloning can also be used to increase the genetic diversity of endangered species, and to produce medicines in the milk of animals. For instance, researchers have managed to transfer human genes that produce useful proteins into sheep and cows, so that they can produce, for instance, the blood clotting agent factor IX to treat haemophilia.
However, cloning for food production has been criticised for intensifying animal suffering. Cloned animals are often heavier than their naturally conceived counterparts, which means mothers often endure a painful birthing process and require caesarean sections. Mortality rates amongst young cloned animals are extremely high, and cloned animals are likely to have defective immune systems and to suffer from heart failure, respiratory difficulties and muscle and joint problems. Furthermore, animal mothers undergo surgical procedures to harvest their eggs and implant the cloned embryos.
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Cloning for medicine
Therapeutic cloning involves the extraction of stem cells from embryos created by cloning, also known as somatic-nuclear cell transfer. This technique has the potential to provide insights into the development of embryos and a better understanding of ageing and age-related diseases. For example, cloned mice exhibited obesity-related symptoms, which could be useful for research.
One of the key applications of therapeutic cloning is the production of medicines in the milk of cloned animals. Researchers have successfully transferred human genes that produce useful proteins into sheep and cows, resulting in the production of substances like the blood-clotting agent factor IX, which can be used to treat haemophilia. Additionally, cloned animals could be developed to produce human antibodies against infectious diseases and cancers.
Another potential use of therapeutic cloning is in xenotransplantation, or the transplantation of animal organs into humans. By combining cloning techniques with genetic modifications, scientists aim to address the challenges of virus transmission and tissue rejection associated with pig-to-human organ transplants.
While the lifting of the ban on therapeutic cloning in Australia has been generally well-received, there are still some concerns and ethical considerations to address. The availability of human eggs, which are necessary for reprogramming donor cells, may be a limiting factor in Australia as the country forbids direct payments to egg donors. Despite this, researchers in Australia are optimistic about the potential of therapeutic cloning and its contribution to advancements in medicine.
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Cloning in endangered species
Cloning is increasingly being considered as a tool to rescue endangered or extinct species. The process involves producing genetically identical individuals. Cloning can be used to reintroduce a member of an endangered species into a population or to bring it back to life after death, thus preserving its genes.
Some scientists argue that cloning could be the best way to preserve endangered species. It could also provide a means to bring extinct species back. Cloning can be used alongside genetic techniques in the development of animal organs for transplant into humans (xenotransplantation). For example, the cloning of pigs could lead to a reliable supply of suitable donor organs.
However, many oppose cloning, arguing that humans should tackle the issues causing biodiversity loss in the first place. Cloning is not a final solution, as other problems exist that this technology would not solve. Furthermore, the cloning process could result in the death of the female, decreasing the population and gene pool of the species.
Cloning endangered species has seen some success. In 2020, Elizabeth Ann, a black-footed ferret, was born. She is a clone of a female named Willa, who died in the mid-1980s and left no living descendants. Elizabeth Ann's unique DNA is predicted to bring fresh genetic diversity to the black-footed ferret captive-breeding programme. In 2020, Kurt was born—the world's first successfully cloned Przewalski's horse. He was cloned from a cell line of a genetically important stallion that had been cryopreserved since 1980.
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Cloning in other countries
The United States, for example, has no federal laws prohibiting cloning research, although federal funding for therapeutic cloning is not permitted. Despite this, US researchers account for about half of the groups pursuing therapeutic cloning. Texas A&M University, for instance, cloned a Black Angus bull named 86 Squared in 2000, and researchers at Advanced Cell Technology in Massachusetts reported 24 successfully cloned Holsteins in 2001.
In 2002, Argentina cloned its first animal, a Jersey calf named Pampa, and in the same year, the United Kingdom lifted its ban on cloning, specifically permitting the creation of cloned embryos for research under certain conditions.
China has also successfully cloned animals, including primates. In 2017, Chinese scientists used the somatic cell nuclear transfer method to clone two live female crab-eating macaques, named Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua. They also reported the creation of five identical cloned, gene-edited monkeys in 2019.
Cloning has been proposed as a method for boosting the genetic diversity of endangered species and even resurrecting extinct ones. In 2008, Japanese scientists found usable DNA in the brains of mice frozen for 16 years, and in 2011, they announced plans to clone mammoths within six years. In 2021, Russian scientists began a project to revive the Irish elk, the largest deer species that went extinct due to suspected overhunting by humans.
Overall, cloning of animals is a global endeavour, with countries like the United States, Argentina, the United Kingdom, China, Japan, and Russia all making significant contributions and advancements in the field.
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Frequently asked questions
There are currently about 30-40 cloned animals (all cattle) in Australia. Food products from these animals are not entering the food supply, but products from their offspring almost certainly are.
Many animals have been cloned in countries outside of Australia, including frogs, mice, rabbits, horses, donkeys, pigs, goats, cattle, cats, dogs, and sheep. The first animal to be cloned was a sheep named Dolly in 1996.
Cloning animals is a highly controversial topic. Some argue that it intensifies animal suffering, with cloned animals often suffering from health issues, weight problems, arthritis, and viral lung cancer. There are also concerns about the stressful nature of the embryo transfer process for animal mothers. However, others argue that cloning can provide medical benefits, such as producing medicines in the milk of cloned animals and creating a reliable supply of donor organs.
