2016/07/26 by Kevin D. Sinclair, Sandra Corr, Carlos G. Gutiérrez +6 · 1 citation
Medicine · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Reproductive Biology and Fertility #Animal Genetics and Reproduction #Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/ncomms12359
openalex publication_date 2016/07/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
The health of cloned animals generated by somatic-cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has been of concern since its inception; however, there are no detailed assessments of late-onset, non-communicable diseases. Here we report that SCNT has no obvious detrimental long-term health effects in a cohort of 13 cloned sheep. We perform musculoskeletal assessments, metabolic tests and blood pressure measurements in 13 aged (7-9 years old) cloned sheep, including four derived from the cell line that gave rise to Dolly. We also perform radiological examinations of all main joints, including the knees, the joint most affected by osteoarthritis in Dolly, and compare all health parameters to groups of 5-and 6-year-old sheep, and published reference ranges. Despite their advanced age, these clones are euglycaemic, insulin sensitive and normotensive. Importantly, we observe no clinical signs of degenerative joint disease apart from mild, or in one case moderate, osteoarthritis in some animals. Our study is the first to assess the long-term health outcomes of SCNT in large animals.