Dolly has a little lamb

24 April 1998

Dolly has a little lamb

DOLLY, the worlds first cloned sheep, gave birth to Bonnie at Scotlands Roslin Institute on 13 April.

It was initially thought that the Dolly was infertile, but institute director Professor Grahame Bullfield said the birth confirmed she was able to breed normally and produce healthy offspring.

The technique used to clone Dolly from an adults cell rather than from embryo cells could be used to generate flocks of sheep and cows that have been genetically altered to produce medicines in their milk. It also has potential in livestock farming.

Animal welfare charities immediately called for a ban on animal cloning on grounds of the potential for suffering and exploitation. A poll in Edinburgh revealed that 81% of adults are opposed to cloning of animals.

• 
  Financial Times 24/04/98 page 12
  
• The Times 24/04/98 page 7
  
• The Independent 24/04/98 page 1
  
• The Daily Telegraph 24/04/98 page 10
  
• The Guardian 24/04/98 page 5
  
• The Scotsman 24/04/98 page 7