Cloned Rhesus Monkey Grows into Adulthood for First Time

Using somatic cell nuclear transfer, a technique in which the DNA of a non-germ cell is transferred into an immature female germ cell for the generation of a new individual genetically identical to the donor, the Chinese team cloned the world's first macaques in 2018, the Xinhua reported.

However, the cloning of mammals remains inefficient, with high embryonic or newborn animal mortality. In rhesus monkeys, only one successful cloning had previously been reported, but the infant died within 12 hours after birth.

The researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a method capable of providing a healthy placenta for the developing cloned embryo, according to the study published in the journal Nature Communications.

Once this placenta was created, researchers transferred 11 reconstructed embryos to 7 surrogates, resulting in a healthy male called ReTro that had survived for well for over two years by the time they submitted their research for publication.

The scientists said such cloned monkeys have the potential to be used as models for studying human mental illnesses like depression and anxiety, as well as for drug evaluation projects.

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