Could Two Monkeys Hold Key to Biomedicine's Future? (STAT)

Cloned primates in China cause excitement among genetic researchers

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A pair of monkeys is creating a buzz in the biomedical research community, reports STAT News.

After three years of experimentation, researchers in China used somatic cell nuclear transfer to successfully clone macaque monkeys for the first time. The technique is similar to that used to create Dolly the sheep in 1996, but in this case, scientists used cells from a macaque fetus and not an adult animal. Said lead investigator Qiang Sun, "This will generate real models not just for genetically based brain diseases, but also cancer, immune, or metabolic disorders."

But STAT said other experts are split on the achievement's importance; one suggested the animals' genetic sameness will be a drawback rather than an advantage.