China has successfully cloned six mini pigs with the joint efforts of China Agricultural University and Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences. From these six pigs, 4 have passed away whereas two Gottingen male pigs are in good condition. The pigs that have survived are 9 days old and had weighed 0.55 kg and 0.6 kg at the birth, currently the two weigh 1.9 kg and 2.3 kg respectively .
The successful cloning of mini pigs in China that have organs similar in size to those of human beings may bring the possibility of transplanting pig organs into people closer.
Gottingen mini pigs are considered as the best breed for conducting medical experiments related to organ transplants as their organs have great similarities to human organs, such as size, structure and functions.
Scientists were able to clone the first mammal, a sheep called Dolly in 1997. Since then scientists have cloned more animals, including cows and mice. However the success in cloning animals has fused fierce debates among scientists, politicians and the public concerning the morality of cloning plants, animals and possibly humans.
Source:spluch
