Researchers clone pigs, monkeys

(02-12-2006)

HA NOI — Vietnamese scientists have successfully cloned several species of pigs and monkeys, announced the Viet Nam Biotechnology Institute on Wednesday at the third Asian Biotechnology Conference in Ha Noi.

The institute’s Doctor Bui Xuan Nguyen said the most prominent cloning experiment was on various wild, small pig species.

The successfully cloned monkey species include the long-tailed monkey (macaca fascicularis) and the rhesus monkey. The shortcomings of the procedure included a short life span of cloned foetuses, which could only be kept alive for a mere 60 days.

The biology institute received technical assistance from foreign scientists during the cloning procedures.

These achievements helped make important contributions to scientific research in the medical field, said an institute spokesperson.

Attending the three-day conference, which concluded yesterday, were about 70 scientists from the US, the European Union, India, South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Viet Nam. — VNS