Yangzhou University "second-generation clone sheep" pregnancy

A few days ago, Yangzhou University in Jiangsu made a significant breakthrough in sheep cloning technology. A first-generation cloned sheep carrying human genes has become pregnant, marking a major milestone. This achievement represents a leap in China's cloning research—from asexual reproduction to sexual reproduction, opening new possibilities in genetic engineering. According to Professor Yong Cheng from the Yangzhou University Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, the university's first genetically modified cloned sheep was successfully born in 1999. At that time, 12 lambs were born, with 8 surviving. To date, the university has successfully bred a total of 20 cloned sheep across two generations, with 16 of them still alive today. The key difference between the first and second generations lies in the source of the cells used for cloning. The first generation was created using somatic cells from a transgenic goat fetus, which is different from the method used to clone Dolly the sheep, who was derived from adult goat cells. This process resulted in a much higher success rate—up to 10 to 20 times better than Dolly’s. The second-generation cloned sheep developed by Yangzhou University are even more advanced. They were created by genetically modifying ordinary goat cells to produce cloned sheep. Scientists have already detected the human lactoferrin gene in four of these second-generation clones. If this project is fully successful, lactoferrin extracted from the milk of these goats could be widely used in pharmaceuticals and health products, offering potential benefits for human health. This development not only highlights the progress in cloning technology but also demonstrates the growing intersection between animal biotechnology and human medicine. With continued research and refinement, such innovations could lead to new treatments and healthier food sources in the future.

Biochemical

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