Cloned apes were born - Chinese study group and future controversy

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

クローンのサルが誕生 中国の研究グループ 今後物議も

1月25日 4時53分

クローン技術によって、全く同じ遺伝子を持つサルを作り出すことに初めて成功したと、中国の研究グループが発表しました。研究グループは、病気の研究に役立つとしている一方、クローン人間を生み出すことにもつながりかねないため、今後議論を呼びそうです。

クローンのサルを作ったのは、中国科学院の上海の研究グループで、２４日付けのアメリカの科学雑誌「セル」に発表しました。

それによりますと、研究グループは、カニクイザルの胎児の皮膚の細胞を、核を取り除いた卵子の細胞の中に入れました。そして、あらゆる臓器や組織に変化する状態になるよう促す遺伝子などを加えた上で、別のメスのサルの子宮に入れたところ、およそ５か月後に２１頭のうち１頭から、健康なメスの双子が生まれたということです。

生まれたサルの遺伝子は、皮膚の細胞を提供したサルと全く同じで、研究グループは、体細胞を使ったクローン技術で霊長類を作ることに初めて成功したとしています。

このクローン技術は、１９９７年にイギリスで報告されたクローン羊「ドリー」と同じ技術で、その後、牛など畜産業でも使われています。研究グループは、ヒトに近いサルのクローンを作ることで、ヒトの細胞やネズミなどの動物を使った研究では解明できていない病気の仕組みの研究や薬の開発に生かせるとしていて、具体的には、アルツハイマー病やパーキンソン病などを再現して治療につなげたいとしています。

クローン人間を作ることは各国で禁止されていますが、研究グループは「霊長類のクローンを作るための技術面での壁は取り除かれた」と話していて、今後議論を呼びそうです。

My translation

January 25  4:53.

A Chinese study group announced that they had for the first time succeeded in producing an ape with the same gene by cloning technology. They had generated argument from now on because while the study group was useful for studying sickness, it could also be lined to the production a human clone.

It was announced in an American scientific journal "Cell" dated 24th that a study group in Shanghai of the Chinese Academy of Sciences had made an ape by cloning.

According to the study group, a cell skin from the fetus of a cynomolgus monkey which had the nucleus removed was put into the cell of the ovum. Then the gene which was said to have the effect of changing the organs or organization was added.  It was put in the wombs of different female apes, after about 5 months it was said that among the 21 female apes, one had given birth to a healthy female twin.

The gene of the born ape was the same as the ape which provided the skin cell, and it was assumed that the study group had succeeded in making primates with cloning technology using a soma for the first time.

This cloning technology was the same as the technology used in the cloned sheep "Dolly"  in the United Kingdom reported in 1997, and after that, a cow was also used in a stock-breeding trade. It was assumed that this study group by making the clone of the ape which was similar to a man could utilize it for the study and development of medicine by knowing the sick mechanism that could not be elucidated by a study using man's cell or an animal such as mice; and specifically they would like to reproduce Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease and link it to a treatment.

Making a human clone is prohibited at all countries, as the study group had said that “a wall on the technological aspect of making the clone of the primates has been removed", from now on discussion would be generated.

     If this research could help the treatment of Alzheimer disease etc. as suggested, then I think many scientifically and medically advanced countries could have already done similar researches, may be in secret.