Cloning of animals leads to first cloned endangered wolves
Cloning wolves
Image courtesy of Kamia the Wolf
First there was Dolly, the sheep born in 1996 at the Roslin Institute in Scotland (named after Dolly Parton since the sheep was cloned from a mammary cell). Then there was CC the cat and Ralph the rat.
Then, two years ago this month, on April 24, 2005, the first dog was cloned and named Snuppy. “Snu” represented the initials of the Seoul National University in South Korea where this remarkable and extremely difficult creation was successfully cloned. Of the thousand embryo transfers completed, only three were successful and of these, one miscarried, one died at birth, and one lived and was named Snuppy.
Snuppy was made from cells taken from the ear of a male Afghan hound. Scientists took the genetic material from the ear cell and placed it into an empty egg cell. This egg was then stimulated to start dividing and develop into an embryo. Once growing, it was transferred to Snuppy’s surrogate mother, a yellow Labrador. The Afghan pup was born by caesarean section after a full 60 days of pregnancy. Independent testing by world agencies has confirmed that Snuppy is indeed a clone.
This past December 2006, this same team announced that three more dogs identical to Snuppy (named Bona, Peace, Hope) had been successfully cloned. At a press conference held two weeks ago on March 26, 2007, they unveiled the first cloned wolves named Snuwolf and Snuwolffy, born 18 months ago. The two wolves, an endangered species, and are presently being held at a zoo in Seoul and undergoing independent testing to confirm their origin. These results will soon be published in the prestigious journal, Cloning and Stem Cells.
Researchers state that clones can be a valuable tool in finding technologies useful for curing human diseases and for preserving endangered or threatened species. I just hope the world considers all the issues very carefully before rushing to name someone “Snuman”.
Lincoln Kim is a member of the healthcare and life sciences team of the MaRS Venture Group. He evaluates and supports the development of technology platforms and commercial market opportunities of start up and emerging companies, facilitates collaboration among research groups and between research scientists and industry.
HAHAHAHA…snuman..
cloning seems great for curing human diseases but I never agree with playing “God” though…it would be so against nature if one day going for a jog i bump into a snuman walking his snuppy..
Posted by: michelle on April 17th, 2007 at 1:55 am
There is definitely a delicate balance between pushing the boundaries of science and interfering with nature. Many countries initially banned therapeutic cloning but these days many countries are passing legislation allowing for the research so that they don’t get “left behind” in the global stem cell race.
Good one. If he bumps you, just don’t call him Frosty…..get it….Frosty the Snuman!! Anyways.
Posted by: Lincoln on April 18th, 2007 at 10:05 am
[...] Now, if there is a point where the space-time continuum bends upon itself, would time travel be possible? And who would we send first to travel back or forward in time… Snuman? (See recent blog entry.) [...]
Posted by: MaRS Blog - Innovation and Commercialization in Canada » Blog Archive » Bend in Space-Time Calculated by Einstein Proven by $760M NASA Satellite on April 24th, 2007 at 9:18 am
[...] Last week, the life drama of South Korean stem cell researcher, Dr. Woo Suk Hwang, famous for cloning the world’s first human embryonic stem cell and the world’s first dog (Snuppy), finally came to a redemptive close. Once hailed as the leading pioneer in human cloning and stem cells, he was subsequently vilified by accusations of improper procedures and falsifications of research mainly involving his students and other team members. Similar to the Greek character, Icarus, Hwang rose to glory too fast, flew too close to the sun and fell into the sea completely disgraced and ostracized. I’m sure Icarus felt better about his fate than Hwang felt midway through this ordeal. [...]
Posted by: MaRS Blog - Innovation and Commercialization in Canada » Blog Archive » Scandal Ends: Redeemed scientist gets credit for historic “virgin birth” on August 17th, 2007 at 9:48 am