Somatic nuclear transfer in livestock species

In this review, we discuss the recent advances in somatic cell nuclear tran sfer (NT) in sheep, cattle, goats, swine and rabbits. Numerous advances hav e been reported as this technique has developed over the last five years. I n the first part of this review, we describe the reported data pertaining t o each of the species mentioned above. Theories are offered to explain the different results seen between different species and cell types. One of the main aspects of somatic cell NT, the production of transgenic animals will also be reviewed. Future applications of this powerful technique are discu ssed. This review concludes with a discussion of some of the problems obser ved in animals produced using NT as well as possible solutions for these ch allenges.