Arctic Wolf Cloned: Chinese Scientists Use SCNT Cloning Method to Replicate the Dog-like Carnivore

Chinese researchers claimed recently that they have managed to clone an arctic wolf, using a controversial approach that could save species from future extinction.

The cloned wolf, a Newsweek report specified, was announced last week by Sinogene Biotechnology, a Beijing-based firm, days after it was born.

According to the company's general manager Mi Jong, it was the world's first of its kind. The cloning method called somatic cell nuclear transfer or SCNT has been used to clone animals in the past, most notably, the sheep named Dolly, which was replicated in Scotland in 1996.

Essentially, SCNT comprises taking a donor cell's nucleus from the body of an animal and placing it inside an egg cell from which the chromosomes have been taken out. Such a nucleus is then reprogrammed to turn fertilized, allowing the eggs to develop and become an embryo.

Exact Clone from the Original

Global Times, a Chinese state media outlet, reported that the nucleus is then placed inside of a host animal that's developing the embryo into a fetus and brings it to full term, ultimately giving birth to an animal that should be an "exact clone of the original form" which the donor nucleus was taken.

There had been times when SCNT proved controversial, specifically in the context of replicating humans, bringing up ethical, social, and legal issues.

According to 2006 research, a majority of clones produced using the SCNT method at that point failed to properly develop and some of those that survived birth experienced health conditions such as premature death, early aging, and tumor.

Dolly the sheep, whose cloning was described in the 2016 report of Time, survived and had a somewhat normal life in captivity.

According to the Roslin Institute, which cloned the sheep, the animal died in 2003 because of lung tumors. She was then six years old.

Arctic Wolf Clone

In the Arctic wolf's case, in which the cloning was carried out in China, it is reported that Maya, the wolf, is in good health.

Although its donor cell was a wild female Arctic wolf, Maya's surrogate mother was a "beagle dog," a decision made on the basis that dogs are sharing genetic ancestry with wolves, making the approach more likely to succeed.

The wolf currently lives with the beagle in a Sinogene laboratory in Xuzhou, located in eastern China, although it is expected to be delivered to the Harbin Polarland amusement park in Heilongjiang Province in China, where it will be exhibited to the public. At first, the wolf will live alone as it might not be possible for her to adapt to Arctic wolf groups.

Other Attempts Using the SCNT Technique

According to the Beijing Wildlife Park deputy manager, Gao Wei, this new approach offers the chance of preserving endangered species in an artificial manner.

Nonetheless, Sun Quanhuihis, a scientist from the World Animal Protection organization, said that such a technique is still at an early phas and that there remain technical and ethical issues to deal with.

Furthermore, even though the birth of Maya was successful, she was not the only attempt. The scientists had developed 137 embryos in all, 85 of which were transferred into seven beagles.

Report about the cloning process of Dolly the sheep is shown on the New York Times's YouTube video below:

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