Success of Embryonic Clones of Primate by Using a Rhesus Monkey in U.S.

`Era of human embryonic clones is imminent?`

Prof. Don Wolf of the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center has created the first embryonic clones of an adult primate, which has been considered to be much more difficult to create than other species like lamb or goat.

U.K. Sunday Times reported yesterday that Prof. Wolf and his research team successfully created the embryonic clones of a rhesus monkey and are preparing to implant them into surrogate mothers.

Sunday Times reported that the primate breakthrough is certain to be seen as powerful evidence that it is now possible to clone a human being, and the researchers would achieve the live birth of a non-human primate within months.

However, Sunday Times also said that it is hard to predict the live birth of a non-human primate because surrogate mothers need to be at exactly the right stage of their estrous cycles when the embryos are implanted into them, even though created embryonic clones are growing well in vitro.

Prof. Wolf said that he is against human reproductive cloning, and emphasized that the aim of this research was to create lines of genetically identical laboratory animals that can be used test drugs and therapies much more accurately.

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