MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile's first cloned cow expected for December

Researchers at the Universidad Austral de Chile (Uach) are closer to reaching their goal of cloning the first cow in Chile. Scientists expect Chile's first bovine clone to be born December 2006.

University researchers hope their cloning experiment will improve efficiency of cloning amongst cows, and "to produce more normal embryos," explained Mario Martínez, a doctor in animal cloning at Uach.

Animal clones often have genetic defects, problems with their immune systems, and weight problems.

After transferring 16 fertilized eggs, only two cows were successfully impregnated and only one of these embryos survived. The calf is expected to be born at the end of the year and "according to the results of the last ultrasound, the embryo seems to be doing well," said Martínez.

The cloning process began at the start of 2005 when cells were taken from the ear of an ?overo colorado' cow. These cells were then injected into an egg which has had the nucleus (and the DNA) removed. After seven days the eggs were planted in the surrogate cow.

Scientists chose the ?overo colorado' breed because of the growing incidence of infertility found amongst the cattle. The drop in fertility is explained by the cattle losing their protection against the inhospitable southern climate. Cross-breeding has also led to a decrease in the number of purebreds and a drop in milk productivity.

The reddish-brown cattle are raised in southern Chile primarily for milk and beef production.

The first animal, a tadpole, was cloned back in 1952. Since then cloning technology has advanced significantly. In 1998 Dolly the sheep became the first animal cloned from the cell of an adult animal.

Although many animals have been successfully cloned, attempts at cloning certain species such as monkeys, chickens, horses, and dogs, have failed. A 2001 study conducted in the U.S. suggests, however, cows are the "easiest" to clone and has provided many scientists with an argument for human cloning. Of 30 cow clones studied, none suffered from serious diseases.

Cloning is highly dangerous with 90% of attempts ending in failure and 30% of successes suffering from debilitating diseases. Drastic improvements in cloning technology may lead exploration into human cloning.

By Cristina Dunn The Santiago Times - News about Chile