Researchers raise cloned rhesus monkey to adulthood

Chinese researchers have published a paper in the journal Nature Communications, reporting the successful cloning and survival to three years of a healthy rhesus monkey.

The monkey, named ReTro, is the world's first cloned rhesus monkey to reach adulthood. The study suggests that a promising cloning strategy for primates has been found through replacing a type of cell that helps provide nutrients to the embryo, enhancing the understanding of reproductive cloning mechanisms in primates and potentially improving its efficiency.

The research paper, published on Jan 16, mentions that in traditional cloning methods, most mammals have extremely low live birth rates, ranging from 1 percent to 3 percent, with high rates of embryo and newborn mortality.