Scientists have cloned the lowly rat for the first time

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the recent achievement of cloning rats, exploring the implications and motivations behind cloning various animals, including rats. It touches on scientific techniques, ethical considerations, and the relevance of cloning in research related to health issues such as heart disease and diabetes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express surprise at the cloning of rats, questioning the motivations behind it compared to other animals that have been cloned for practical purposes.
  • One participant notes a legislative change regarding the classification of rats, mice, and birds in laboratory settings, suggesting a shift in how these animals are perceived in terms of welfare protections.
  • Another participant confirms that the cloning of rats was achieved by French researchers using a specific technique that involved manipulating the maturation of rat eggs.
  • A later reply elaborates on the cloning technique used, describing the process of somatic cell nuclear transfer and the innovative approach taken by the researchers in France and China.
  • Some participants express admiration for the scientific achievement, highlighting the cleverness of the technique as a significant advancement in cloning research.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit a mix of curiosity and skepticism regarding the cloning of rats, with some agreeing on the scientific merit of the achievement while others question the ethical implications and motivations behind cloning such animals. No consensus is reached on the broader implications of this development.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects varying perspectives on the ethical considerations of cloning, particularly in relation to animal welfare and the definitions used in legislation. There are also unresolved questions about the broader applications of rat cloning in medical research.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to researchers in genetics, ethics in animal research, and those studying the implications of cloning technology in biomedical fields.

Ivan Seeking
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Scientists have cloned the lowly rat for the first time, and, believe it or not, people are happy about it.

The cat, cow and pig, among others, have all been cloned. Why clone all these animals? Pet owners long to resurrect their lost Muffin, ranchers want to reproduce their best beef cattle, and pig organs might one day replace damaged human organs. But why anyone would want to clone a rat is beyond belief for most people, except researchers who study heart disease, diabetes and neurological disorders.

http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,60580,00.html
 
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All the more interesting in light of a tidbit I read in the Jan 2003 issue of Discover...

Last May, Congress played with definitions while amending the Animal Welfare Act...representatives in Washington no longer consider rats, mice, and birds used in laboratory experiments to be animals, or at least animals worthy of protection.
 
Didn't the French actually clone the rat?


"Both male and female white rats were cloned using a technique that slowed the maturing of the rat eggs used in the procedure..."

That can be seen here: http://www.iht.com/articles/111313.html
 
Originally posted by Jeebus
Didn't the French actually clone the rat?


"Both male and female white rats were cloned using a technique that slowed the maturing of the rat eggs used in the procedure..."

That can be seen here: http://www.iht.com/articles/111313.html

The wired article:

A rat clone has evaded scientists for years, and animal cloning researchers were impressed by the new technique devised by scientists at the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique in France, and the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing...

The French and Chinese researchers used a chemical to prevent activation, performed the somatic cell nuclear transfer, then removed the chemical, allowing it to proceed with activation -- kind of like catching a water balloon mid-air, taking out the water and filling it with Gatorade, then letting it go again.

"I think it's classic good science," Davis said. "They have a very simple but clever solution to the problem."

The Herald:
Both male and female white rats were cloned...at the National Institute of Agricultural Research at Jouy-en-Josas, France

Same story.