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Snuppy, the world’s first cloned dog. |
On March 8, 2006, scientists confirmed that Snuppy, an Afghan hound, is the first cloned dog in the world.
A team of experts from Seoul National University and American researchers conducted DNA testing using blood samples from the cloned dog Snuppy, the cloned stem cells, and cells from the mother dog that carried Snuppy.
The results showed that Snuppy was cloned by a team of scientists led by South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk.
Hwang Woo-suk had previously lost credibility due to controversies and is currently under investigation along with three other scientists since March 3.
Elaine Ostrander, a scientist at the National Human Genome Research Institute in Bethesda, USA, stated, “This data confirms that Snuppy was created from the stem cells of the donor dog Tai.”
The investigation committee at Seoul National University and Ostrander’s research team both published their findings in January 2006. Their research results were published in the most recent issue of Nature magazine.
The study of stem cells has brought hope to patients suffering from severe diseases ranging from diabetes to Parkinson’s disease.
Stem cells are the most important cells with the potential to develop into any type of cell in the human body.
Scientists believe they can use this research to develop new treatments for various diseases. However, their use remains controversial because the potential stem cells are derived from human embryos.
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