Scientists are working on three different techniques for creating offspring from the cells of endangered species.
Nuclear transfer
This technology was used to create Dolly the sheep and involves transferring the nucleus of an adult mammal cell into a developing egg cell whose own nucleus has been removed. Scientists have cloned two endangered types of cattle — the gaur and the banteng — this way but have found the technique is associated with early deaths and malformations.
Mixing cells
This technique would involve mixing stem cells from an endangered animal with those of a more common, but related species. Offspring from this mix would then be selectively mated to breed out the genes of the common animal and leave only a purebred version of the endangered creature.
Creating sperm and eggs
By removing stem cells from an animal, scientists hope that they will one day be able to create sperm and eggs of that species. These could then be used, in a petri dish, to create embryos that could then be implanted in a related species. VIEW THIS PAGE
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