What we’ve learned about cloning since Dolly the sheep’s birth 30 years ago
Dolly the sheep was cloned 30 years ago. Here’s what we’ve learned about cloning since then
- Thirty years after Dolly the sheep, animal cloning remains an inefficient and complex process, primarily using somatic cell nuclear transfer.
- Despite its challenges, cloning research has led to breakthroughs like induced pluripotent stem cells, aiding disease study and regenerative medicine.
- Current applications include replicating desirable traits in livestock, commercial pet cloning, and scientific research, such as the recent cloning of a rhesus monkey.
- Cloning offers promise for conservation efforts, successfully restoring genetic diversity in endangered species like the black-footed ferret, though true de-extinction of ancient animals is largely unfeasible.
- Human cloning is not a reality due to significant safety risks and major ethical concerns, leading to its prohibition or heavy restriction in many nations.
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