These Adorable Monkeys Were Successfully Cloned And People Are Torn About It
Are humans next?
Scientists in China say they have successfully cloned two monkeys. Photos of the adorable little creatures, along with the study, were released yesterday.
Qiang Sun and Mu-ming Poo/Chinese Academy of Sciences/Cell Press / Via wfdd.org
Primates had never been cloned before.
The two monkeys are genetically identical long-tailed macaques named Hua Hua and Zhong Zhong. Hua Hua is six weeks old, and Zhong Zhong is eight weeks old.
Qiang Sun and Mu-ming Poo/Chinese Academy of Sciences/Cell Press
“This paper really marks the beginning of a new era for biomedical research," Xiong Zhi-Qi, a neuroscientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Neuroscience, told Nature News.
The technology is similar to what was used to clone Dolly the Sheep in 1996.
Creative Commons / Via commons.wikimedia.org
Although this is a huge scientific feat, some people are concerned about what this scientific breakthrough could mean.
Playing God: Now we've cloned monkeys and ethicists warn of opening the door to cloning humans #monkeys #cloning… https://t.co/Jy3Wo4AdL7
Others are just downright against cloning. Period.
I don't think I like the idea of cloning monkeys. Dolly the sheep was one thing but leave the monkeys. Or any animal.
Then there are others who are pretty pumped at this unprecedented accomplishment.
Wow, this is amazing! ...I will be following these two... Cloning of Macaque Monkeys by Somatic C… https://t.co/0YIxrD9Rsj
Researchers hope to use these animals and others like them to study cancer and other human diseases.
Qiang Sun and Mu-ming Poo/Chinese Academy of Sciences/Cell Press
-
Contact Alicia Barron at alicia.barron@buzzfeed.com.
Got a confidential tip? Submit it here.
