What was the name of the first cloned sheep?
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Dolly the sheep was the first mammal successfully cloned from a differentiated adult cell, a major scientific event that marked the history of modern biotechnology. Born on July 5, 1996 at the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh, Scotland, she has become a symbol of genetic progress, while at the same time sparking numerous ethical debates around the world.
Prior to Dolly, cloning experiments had only been carried out using embryonic cells. Dolly’s birth marked a scientific turning point, for the first time, a differentiated adult cell was reprogrammed to give birth to a complete individual.
This means that a specialized cell, such as a mammary cell, can be returned to the zero state, capable of becoming totipotent again, i.e. capable of generating all the tissues of an organism. Until now, such cellular reversibility was considered improbable.
Dolly was created by a team led by scientist Ian Wilmut. The process used is called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Here are the main steps in the technique:
- Removal of a nucleus from an adult mammary cell of a Finn Dorset ewe;
- Insertion of this nucleus into an enucleated ovum (from which the nucleus has been removed) of a Scottish Blackface ewe;
- Electrical stimulation to trigger cell division;
- The embryo thus formed is then implanted into the uterus of a carrier ewe.
After several unsuccessful attempts (277), only one ewe was born viable, Dolly.
Her name is an ironic tribute to the singer Dolly Parton, famous for her feminine attributes, as the donor cell came from a mammary gland.
Dolly lived for 6 years, a relatively short time for a ewe, but enough to demonstrate that a clone could be fertile and in apparent good health. She gave birth to several lambs and was closely monitored throughout her life.
In 2003, Dolly had to be euthanized due to lung problems caused by a viral disease (unrelated to cloning) and joint problems. Her death reopened the debate on the long-term viability of clones and whether cloning induces premature aging.
Her body was naturalized and is now on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The cloning of Dolly the sheep had a considerable impact on science and society:
- It paved the way for new research into stem cells, cell reprogramming and regenerative medicine;
- It raised major ethical questions concerning human cloning, gene patents and the use of cloning in agriculture and breeding;
- It triggered philosophical debates on identity, reproduction and the limits of science.
Since then, other animals have been successfully cloned, cows, dogs, horses, cats… but cloning remains a complex, costly and controversial technique.
Dolly the sheep was the first to be cloned from an adult cell, and her birth in 1996 marked a turning point in the history of genetics. Not only did she demonstrate that cell reprogramming was possible, she also paved the way for major advances in modern biology. Today, her name remains associated with a scientific revolution as fascinating as it is controversial.
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What was the name of the first cloned sheep?
Answer
The first sheep cloned from an adult cell is called Dolly. Born in Scotland in 1996, she made biotechnology history.