This article is from the WSSF 2013 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.

Submitted by Mayumi Anderson, CA

Japanese scientists have created 581 copies of the same mouse after 25 rounds of cloning. Using the same techniques that created Dolly the sheep, researchers used somatic cell nuclear transfer (SNCT) which takes the nucleus from one cell and puts it into an unfertilized egg that has its own genetic material removed. The resulting embryo is an exact genetic copy of the donor animal. To prevent epigenetic changes over successive generations, a naturally occurring chemical called trichostatin was added.

The 581 cloned mice showed no signs of premature aging, appeared mentally and physically perfect, were fertile, gave birth to healthy offspring, and lived a normal lifespan.