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Taiwan Scientists Announce Birth of First Cloned Pigs


Taiwan scientists announced that first cloned pigs carrying double transgenes of pig DNA and human DNA has been developed, according to news from Taiwan Friday.

The successful development of the cloned pigs is medically significant for developing agents to help raise pig immunity and making protein drugs for treatment of leukemia, they said.

The three pigs, dubbed Copypig No. 1, 2 and 3, were born recently and remain in good health.

Taiwan scientists said the mortality rate of cloned pigs reaches its peak within the first month of birth, which is why they chose to announce their success only after the piglets had survived for more than one month.

They said the entire project can be considered a real success only after the copypigs prove to be able to reproduce.

Taiwan researchers produced their first cloned calf in September 2001. The cloned animal, however, died four days later from unknown causes.

(People's Daily April 21, 2002)

In This Series

Chinese Scientists Clone Calves

China Sets up Diversified Pig DNA Bank

China's Calf-cloning Technology at Advanced Level

China’s Cloned Goat Gives Birth to Twins

China Clones Scores of Plants, Pigs, Sheep, Rabbits, Cows

Scientists Clone Venus' Flytrap

Zoo Show Features Cloned Goats

References

Genome Research Enters New Phase

Chinese Legislators Strongly Oppose Reproductive Human Cloning

Chinese/French Experts Urge Ban on Human Cloning

New Laws to Guide Nation's Gene Work

China Establishes Animal Cloning Company

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