Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Endangered Species Cloned back from Brink (with Kitty Pics)

Astrocloud · 08-23-2005, 01:05 PM

http://www.physorg.com/news5939.html

Quote:

For the first time ever, two unrelated clones of a wild species have bred naturally to produce healthy babies. Unrelated endangered African wildcat clones have given birth to a total of eight babies. These births advance the science of high-tech reproduction for endangered species by confirming that clones of wild animals can breed naturally, making critically important contributions to shrinking gene pools of animals on the brink of extinction.

Two litters of kittens produced by natural breeding of cloned African wildcats have been born at Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species. The first five kittens were born on July 26, 2005 to the African wildcat Madge, who is a clone of the wildcat Nancy. The second litter, consisting of three kittens, was born on August 2 to the African wildcat Caty, also a clone of the wildcat Nancy. The father of both litters is Ditteaux, a clone of the African wildcat Jazz. Jazz made headlines when he was born as the result of transfer of cryopreserved (“frozen”) embryos to a domestic cat.

The successful experiment, unveiled by the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species in New Orleans, Louisiana, over the weekend, appeared to open the way to bringing severely endangered species back from the brink of extinction, scientists said.

But it also raised the question if Jurassic Park, a fictional nature preserve teaming with cloned dinosaurs and velociraptors invented by popular novelist Michael Crichton and popularized in a blockbuster 1993 movie, was getting closer to becoming a reality.

"The science which produced these beautiful kittens is nothing short of wondrous," commented Ron Forman, president and chief executive of the Audubon Nature Institute. "We are thrilled to play a part in a scientific journey holding such enormous potential for the world's animals."

Scientists said the newly-born kittens will be shown to the public at Audubon Zoo in New Orleans later on this year.

But they will be returned to the research center for more study as they grow up and start displaying their mature wildcat instincts.

I not only see this as a way of saving endagered species. I see it as an excuse to post pictures of adorable kitties. Also I want some for my private zoo.