Brazilian researchers claim cloned cow
Brazil’s agricultural research agency says it has successfully cloned a cow belonging to a nearly extinguished breed, in an experiment that could help save other endangered species.
Two calves, named Pora and Potira, were born last month in a healthy condition after being cloned from a nine-year-old cow of the Junqueira breed, which is known for its prized meat and has fewer than 100 animals left in Brazil, the government agency said.
“This is potentially important for programmes aimed at the conservation and improvement of (endangered animals),” researcher Rodolfo Rumpf said in a statement.
“This research is currently dealing with cows, but in the future we believe the technology can help in the conservation of other species too.”
In the cloning process, researchers used cells from the ear of the nine-year-old cow. Forty-two embryos were placed in the uterus of 35 cows, resulting in the two calves.
The Junqueira breed began being raised in the interior of Sao Paulo state in the 18th and 19th centuries and was gradually replaced by breeds that are now considered more productive.
The Brazilian research agency, known by its Portuguese acronym Embrapa, was responsible for Latin America’s first cloned cow in 2001. It also cloned a cow in 2003.
