independent.co.uk
Cloned Ferret Gives Birth
A cloned black-footed ferret successfully gave birth, marking a major milestone in endangered species conservation.
English
United Kingdom
HealthConservationEndangered SpeciesZooCloningFerret
Smithsonian National Zoo And Conservation Biology InstituteUs Fish And Wildlife ServiceSan Diego Zoo Wildlife AllianceRevive & RestoreAssociation Of Zoos And Aquariums
AntoniaWillaPaul MarinariUrchin
- Which organizations collaborated on this project?
- This achievement is a result of collaboration between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and several partners, including the Smithsonian's NZCBI, Revive & Restore, and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
- What is the significance of Antonia the ferret's birth?
- Antonia, a cloned black-footed ferret, successfully gave birth to two healthy kits at the Smithsonian National Zoo.
- What is the current status of the kits and their mother?
- The kits are now three weeks old and in good health, currently residing at the Virginia facility for further research.
- What is unique about this birth in the context of conservation?
- The birth is a historic first for conservationists, marking the first time a cloned endangered species has produced offspring.
- What is the origin of the genetic material used to clone Antonia?
- Antonia was cloned from tissue samples of Willa, a black-footed ferret preserved in the San Diego Zoo's Frozen Zoo in 1988.