Cloning experiment shows rhesus monkeys die young from gene glitches
Source: newscientist.com
- A major experiment cloned 140 rhesus monkeys but found they died much sooner than normal.
- Clones had severe epigenetic abnormalities, causing organ defects and early death.
- This reveals a fundamental flaw in cloning mammals like monkeys and humans.
Researchers in China conducted a landmark cloning experiment on rhesus monkeys, producing 14 live births from 113 embryos but all died prematurely. The study, published in Cell on 3 October 2024, uncovered widespread epigenetic problems that disrupted normal development. It involves scientists like Zhong Wei, who led the effort, and highlights why cloning primates remains extremely difficult. This matters because it challenges hopes for cloning endangered species or advancing human-related biote