July 30, 2007

Cloned pigs gives birth in Taiwan
 

Three female cloned pigs raised at the Animal Technology Institute Taiwan (ATIT) have given birth to 19 piglets in recent months, enabling Taiwan's scientists to declare a milestone reached in cloning technology.

ATIT researchers cloned five "spotty mini pigs" from a female Lanyu small-ear pig last year. All five have been growing healthily since birth, and three of them became pregnant early this year through natural insemination, the scientists said.

Of the 19 piglets born, six died due to insufficient milk while the other 13 grew without trouble. 

The first cloned pigs the institute produced in 2002 did not have reproductive functions.

The fact that the cloned pigs were able to give birth to healthy piglets and that their offspring did not carry any genetic dysfunctions is testimony to the improvement in the institute's cloning technology, they said. 

ATIT's latest research results were presented at the recent BioTaiwan 2007, which showcases the latest in the island's biotechnology applications.