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19:10 13.07.2017(updated 19:20 13.07.2017) Get short URL

BEIJING (Sputnik) Beijing-based SinoGene biotechnology company said that it had successfully created a cloned beagle puppy named Long Long. The puppy is not only the first clone tobe made froma genetically modified dog, butalso the first cloned canine.

Sputnik correspondents visited the company's laboratory inorder tofind outwhy scientists chose a dog forcloning and spoke withSinoGene Director General Mi Tzidun and his deputy Zhao Jianping.

Super Dog?

The cloning process ofa genetically engineered dog takes anywhere fromtwo toseveral months. According toMi, withinone experiment, scientist try toclone 10 dogs, butmodification inthe genome can occur only intwo individuals. At the same time, he stressed that it is not possible topredict the success rate, sincethere is always a factor ofuncertainty. In some cases, the experiment may be completely unsuccessful.

Sputnik/ Irina Gavrikova

Cloned dogs

According toZhao, gene modified dogs retain their reproductive capacity and are able toreproduce fromthe age of10 months. Gene modifications are transmitted tonext generations.

The life expectancy ofsuch dogs does not differ fromthose ofordinary ones, Mi added.

"An animal withthe quite well-developed motor and olfactory functions, performing special work, can be called a super dog. A guide dog, forexample, or hunting dog or a dog performing search and rescue work. But we create dogs using a method ofgenetic editing, which causes disease. In simple terms, infuture the dog acquires the ability tosuffer fromhuman diseases, so it can not be called a 'super dog,'" a SinoGene researcher said.

The Goal Justifies the Means

Genetic engineering technologies have significant importance forthe development ofmedicine, asthey help totreat tumors and genetic disease, the SinoGene researcher added.

"It is possible totest the drugs safety and check their effectiveness using cloned dogs. Previously, dogs were used relatively rarely insuch experiments, because the process ofediting a dog's genes is rather complicated. We conduct these studies, because the course ofthe disease indogs and humans is relatively the same. Dogs and humans also have a high degree ofgenetic similarity," the researcher added.

In particular, SinoGene scientists have already studied such diseases asatherosclerosis, autism, muscular dystrophy and diabetes mellitus, using genetically engineered dogs.

General Director of Sinogene Mi Jidong

Sputnik/ Irina Gavrikova

Cloned dogs

Sputnik/ Irina Gavrikova

Zhao Jianping

Sputnik/ Irina Gavrikova

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Sputnik/ Irina Gavrikova

General Director of Sinogene Mi Jidong

Speaking aboutthe morality ofthis practice, Chinese scientists say that unfortunately the development ofscience and medicine requires such victims.

Future Plans

SinoGene experts said that the next step intheir research could be the cloning ofa genetically modified cat.

"However, atthe moment we do not yet have the necessary technologies, we need toaccumulate experience and knowledge, then we can make further plans. Using this knowledge, it will be possible toconduct appropriate studies ofthe entire feline family, especially withregard toendangered animal species, forexample, the Amur tiger and some species ofleopard," Mi said.

The director general added that the company maintains transparency inits research and is ready toshare its discoveries withthe world community forthe development ofscience.

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Genetically - Sputnik International