Scientists Clone Mice Who Were Frozen for Nearly 16 Years, Mammoths Next

From http://www.lifenews.com/bio2615.html

Scientists Clone Mice Who Were Frozen for Nearly 16 Years, Mammoths Next

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 4, 2008

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Tokyo, Japan (LifeNews.com) -- Scientists in Japan have cloned new mice from some that were frozen for as long as 16 years in what concerns pro-life advocates as an extension of grisly "brave new world" experiments. The scientists say the results show they may be able to bring back dead or extinct species through animal cloning.

Teruhiko Wakayama and his colleagues at the Center for Developmental Biology in Yokohama cloned the mice even though their cells had burst.

They wrote a paper about their accomplishment in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

As a result of the cloning experiment, "nuclear transfer techniques could be used to 'resurrect' animals or maintain valuable genomic stocks from tissues frozen for prolonged periods without any cryopreservation," they wrote.

"Cloning animals by nuclear transfer provides an opportunity to preserve endangered mammalian species," they added.

Still, they said in the paper that they may not be able to resurrect ancient species because their cells are no longer living even though bodies or bones may have been preserved. But because the cells of the mice in this experiment were damaged, they're hopeful.

Wesley J. Smith, an American bioethicist, says he's concerned that the cloning experiments will someday move form animal to human beings.

"I do know that eventually scientists will want to turn these technologies at the human race," he said.

Smith cautions those who think cloning will bring back a favorite pet or person.

"Of course 'we' wouldn't be back, it would be our near-identical twins who would be their own individuals. I am beginning to be glad I won't be here one hundred years from now," he said.


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