From: L' Ermit (lhermit@hotmail.com)
Date: Thu Feb 14 2002 - 19:44:27 MST
[url]http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-02/tau-tac021402.php[/url]
accessed 2002-02-14
Public release date: 14-Feb-2002
Contact: Lane Stephenson
lbs@univrel.tamu.edu
979-845-4641
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M clones first cat
COLLEGE STATION, February 14, 2002 - In what is believed to be the first
success of its kind, researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine at
Texas A&M University have cloned a cat. A kitten, named "cc," was born to
"Allie" a surrogate mother, on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001.
The kitten is believed to be the first successfully cloned companion animal,
and Texas A&M is the first academic institution in the world to have cloned
four different species. Previously, researchers at the College of Veterinary
Medicine have cloned cattle, goats and pigs.
cc and "Rainbow," her genetic donor, are both female domestic shorthair
cats. The announcement of the successful cat cloning was delayed until DNA
analysis could be performed to confirm genetic identity.
This breakthrough in cat cloning at the College of Veterinary Medicine at
Texas A&M is reported in the current issue of Nature, the prestigious
scientific publication headquartered in London, England.
"cc is developing normally for a kitten its age and appears healthy," said
Dr. Mark Westhusin, who holds a joint appointment with the Colleges of
Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture and Life Sciences and is the lead
investigator on the project. "A DNA analysis confirmed cc is a clone, i.e. a
genetic copy of the donor," adding that "future scientific advances
resulting from the successful cloning of the cat are expected."
Although the cloned kitten exhibits a color pattern similar to the cell
donor, the color distribution is not exactly the same.
"The pattern of pigmentation in multi-colored animals is the result of
genetic factors as well as developmental factors that are not controlled by
genotype," explains Westhusin.
The clone was produced using nuclear transfer. Dr. Taeyoung Shin performed
the nuclear transfer procedures with Drs. Duane Kraemer, Jim Rugila and Lisa
Howe assisting with transfer of the cloned embryos into the surrogate mother
and delivery of the kitten. cc is under the medical care of Drs. Rugila and
Howe, both veterinarians at the College of Veterinary Medicine's Veterinary
Medical Teaching Hospital at Texas A&M.
"With each new species cloned, we learn more about how this technology might
be applied to improving the health of animals and humans," said Westhusin.
In August 2001, the first of five litters of cloned piglets were born at the
College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M. Other cloned animals born at the
university include a Boer goat, a disease-resistant Angus bull, and the
first Brahma bull. Texas A&M researchers are also aggressively working to
clone dogs and horses.
"The knowledge we gain from cloning these animals could greatly affect
several areas of science and medicine," said H. Richard Adams, dean of the
College of Veterinary Medicine. "With each successful cloned species, we
learn more about cloning procedures and how to make the process more
efficient."
###
The Missyplicity Project, a $3.7 million effort to clone a specific
mixed-breed dog named Missy, funded by Genetic Savings & Clone, Inc., is
helping to fuel the progress of Texas A&M's cloning research program.
Established in 1916, the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M is one
of the world 's largest veterinary colleges and is an international leader
in animal health care and research.
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