The research follows the long and complex path of cloning mammals, the most famous example of which is Dolly the sheep. By reprogramming cells from another rhesus monkey, the researchers created cloned embryos and transplanted them into surrogate mothers. Two years later, the ReTro macaque achieved initial success, raising hopes of accelerating medical research.
Chief investigator Dr. Falong Lu celebrates this discovery, but the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has serious doubts. They question the immediate benefit to patients and highlight the immense suffering experienced by animals as a result of the 113 embryos used for one live birth. Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, an advocate for ethical animal research, also raised concerns about the large number of embryos needed and the limited data available from just one birth.
The research team now aims to improve the process and reduce the number of animals involved in the study, while also focusing on ethical standards and taking into account concerns about animal suffering.
Source: Ferra
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