RECENT PROGRESS IN MAMMALIAN CLONING

Purpose: Our purpose was to review recent progress in the use of nucle ar transfer technology to produce genetically identical mammals. Metho ds: A literature review was conducted. Results: The reasons for clonin g nonhuman mammals are manyfold including commercial, biomedical, and basic research applications. Individual steps in the nuclear transfer process are itemized, along with a detailed description of the specifi c approaches used in the production of Dolly, NETI, and DITTO. The pot ential application of nuclear transfer in the treatment of human infer tility is also considered, along with bioethical concerns. Finally: in sights are provided concerning the future application of cloning techn ology in rhesus macaques.Conclusions: The cloning of a lamb (Dolly) fr om an adult, mammary gland cell coupled with the successful production of rhesus monkeys (NETI and DITTO) by nuclear transfer of embryonic c ells mar ks the beginning of a ''Golden Age'' in the development and a pplication of somatic cell clotting technology in mammals.