August 3, 2005

scientists react to news of the first cloned dog as published in Nature

The Afghan hound called Snuppy was created in South Korea by the cloning team led by Professor Woo Suk Hwang.

Ian Wilmut, Professor of Reproductive Science, University of Edinburgh and responsible for cloning Dolly the sheep, said:

“Professor Hwang and his colleagues are to be congratulated on another great success.

“The result emphasises that it is necessary to optimise the method of nuclear transfer for each species. In this case it seems that success followed the use of a source of oocytes that were likely to be of the highest quality, although this point was not formally proved. Professor Whang and his colleagues allowed maturation to proceed in the dog before recovering oocytes which had matured within the animal at the appropriate stage. ”

“There is a great need for a global ban on human reproductive cloning. Successful cloning of an increasing number of species confirms the general impression that it would be possible to clone any mammalian species, including humans, given an optimised method. Ironically, it is the USA which does most to prevent the establishment of such a ban, while at the present time it would not be illegal to clone a person in some states of the USA.”

Dr Freda Scott-Park, President Elect of the British Veterinary Association (will be President from October), said:

“This report demonstrates just how fast the world of genetic manipulation is moving and no one should underestimate the far-reaching consequences of this work. Sadly however, the media interest is likely to attract pet owners keen to re-create their much-loved pets although this demand is unlikely to be met until the efficiency of cloning is raised. No one can deny that techniques that advance our understanding of diseases and their therapy are to be encouraged but cloning of animals raises many ethical and moral issues that have still to be properly debated within the profession.”

Note to Editors This paper was published in Nature Volume 436 Number 7051 04 AUGUST 2005. For information on this paper please speak to Ruth Francis, senior press officer at Nature on 0207 843 4562