<p>Chinese researchers have successfully cloned a rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) using an innovative technique that addresses common developmental defects observed in cloned embryos.&nbsp;Notably, rhesus monkeys are phylogenetically close to humans, sharing about 93 per cent of their DNA and this makes them valuable models for studying human physiology, anatomy, and diseases. The new method is different from what was used to clone&nbsp;Dolly the sheep. The monkey, named ReTro, is now over two years of age, marking a&nbsp;milestone in primate cloning.</p>

<p>For the first time, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai have achieved successful cloning of a rhesus monkey using a modified cloning approach that involved replacing the placenta, which plays a crucial role in supporting the growth and development of the fetus, of the cloned embryo with a placenta from embryos produced by in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).</p>

<p>By doing so, the scientists reduced developmental defects that typically hinder the survival of cloned embryos, ultimately leading to the first successful cloning of the species.</p>

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<p>The conventional cloning technique, known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), has historically resulted in low birth and survival rates for cloned embryos, especially in primates. This is the technique used to clone Dolly the sheep and other mammals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previous attempts to clone long-tailed macaques in 2018 yielded only two surviving monkeys out of 109 cloned embryos. In 2022, a rhesus monkey cloned using SCNT survived for less than 12 hours.</p>

<h2><strong>What was the obstacle?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The researchers found that the placentas were not reprogrammed during the cloning process resulting in abnormal development. To overcome this issue, instead of using&nbsp;the entire cloned embryo, including the part that forms the placenta, which is the outer layer, scientists extracted the inner cells, which contribute to the animal's body development, and introduced them into a non-cloned outer embryo.</p>

<p>This innovative technique was designed to encourage the development of a normal placenta. This resulted in the creation of a "natural placenta" while maintaining the cloned nature of the fetus.</p>

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<p>The researchers successfully implanted 11 cloned rhesus monkey embryos into seven surrogates, resulting in two pregnancies.&nbsp;One of the surrogates gave birth to ReTro, a healthy male rhesus monkey that has thrived for more than two years. However, challenges remain in improving the cloning process.</p>

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<p>Lluís Montoliu, a geneticist at the Spanish National Center for Biotechnology, reportedly&nbsp;emphasised the difficulty of achieving success with such low efficiencies in cloning experiments.</p>

<p>Scientists envision using cloned monkeys for drug testing and behavioural research, aiming to reduce the number of animals used in experiments and eliminate genetic background interference.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Chinese researchers have successfully cloned a rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) using an innovative technique that addresses common developmental defects observed in cloned embryos.

Chinese researchers have successfully cloned a rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) using an innovative technique that addresses common developmental defects observed in cloned embryos. Notably, rhesus monkeys are phylogenetically close to humans, sharing about 93 per cent of their DNA and this makes them valuable models for studying human physiology, anatomy, and diseases. The new method is different from what was used to clone Dolly the sheep. The monkey, named ReTro, is now over two years of age, marking a milestone in primate cloning. For the first time, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai have achieved successful cloning of a rhesus monkey using a modified cloning approach that involved replacing the placenta, which plays a crucial role in supporting the growth and development of the fetus, of the cloned embryo with a placenta from embryos produced by in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). By doing so, the scientists reduced developmental defects that typically hinder the survival of cloned embryos, ultimately leading to the first successful cloning of the species. Also Read | Big Bug Bang: US to see 'double cicada explosion' that won't happen for next 400 years The conventional cloning technique, known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), has historically resulted in low birth and survival rates for cloned embryos, especially in primates. This is the technique used to clone Dolly the sheep and other mammals. Previous attempts to clone long-tailed macaques in 2018 yielded only two surviving monkeys out of 109 cloned embryos. In 2022, a rhesus monkey cloned using SCNT survived for less than 12 hours. What was the obstacle? The researchers found that the placentas were not reprogrammed during the cloning process resulting in abnormal development. To overcome this issue, instead of using the entire cloned embryo, including the part that forms the placenta, which is the outer layer, scientists extracted the inner cells, which contribute to the animal's body development, and introduced them into a non-cloned outer embryo. This innovative technique was designed to encourage the development of a normal placenta. This resulted in the creation of a "natural placenta" while maintaining the cloned nature of the fetus. Also Read | Tibet may be splitting apart due to colossal tectonic collision underneath Himalayas The researchers successfully implanted 11 cloned rhesus monkey embryos into seven surrogates, resulting in two pregnancies. One of the surrogates gave birth to ReTro, a healthy male rhesus monkey that has thrived for more than two years. However, challenges remain in improving the cloning process. Watch | 'Dopamine Dressing,' fashion fad or need of the hour? × Lluís Montoliu, a geneticist at the Spanish National Center for Biotechnology, reportedly emphasised the difficulty of achieving success with such low efficiencies in cloning experiments. Scientists envision using cloned monkeys for drug testing and behavioural research, aiming to reduce the number of animals used in experiments and eliminate genetic background interference. (With inputs from agencies)

Rhesus monkey cloned using new technique different from what was used for Dolly the sheep

<p>Scientists seems to have proven that traumatic and stressful events in childhood can affect the brain into adulthood, identifying for the first-time specific alterations to key brain structures in the amygdala and the hippocampus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the help of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 35 adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 35 healthy controls, cross-referenced with questionnaires, the research seems to have found a crucial link between neural tissue volume and childhood traumatic stress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Maltreatment and negative experiences early in life are known to be the risk factors for developing mental health disorders, such as MDD. The team behind this new study thinks that changes in brain function might be one of the reasons for it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the help of the study, researchers are able to identify, which specific regions of amygdala or the hippocampus, get altered by childhood trauma incidents, they can make attempts to mitigate or reverse the changes. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The recent improvements in the MRI scanning technology mean these particular areas of the brain could be studied in detail in human volunteers, building on the previous research that looked at the link between brain volume in animals and stress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As amygdala and hippocampus continue to grow and evolve for a long time after birth, they are of particular interest to scientists studying childhood development. They are also associated with learning, memory, and the management of emotions, fear and stress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The damage done in the early years can make the brain – and the amygdala and hippocampus in particular – more vulnerable to stresses that come along later in life, suggest researchers.</p>


Scientists seems to have proven that traumatic and stressful events in childhood can affect the brain into adulthood, identifying for the first-time specific alterations to key brain structures in the amygdala and the hippocampus.

Scientists seems to have proven that traumatic and stressful events in childhood can affect the brain into adulthood, identifying for the first-time specific alterations to key brain structures in the amygdala and the hippocampus. With the help of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 35 adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 35 healthy controls, cross-referenced with questionnaires, the research seems to have found a crucial link between neural tissue volume and childhood traumatic stress. Maltreatment and negative experiences early in life are known to be the risk factors for developing mental health disorders, such as MDD. The team behind this new study thinks that changes in brain function might be one of the reasons for it. With the help of the study, researchers are able to identify, which specific regions of amygdala or the hippocampus, get altered by childhood trauma incidents, they can make attempts to mitigate or reverse the changes. The recent improvements in the MRI scanning technology mean these particular areas of the brain could be studied in detail in human volunteers, building on the previous research that looked at the link between brain volume in animals and stress. As amygdala and hippocampus continue to grow and evolve for a long time after birth, they are of particular interest to scientists studying childhood development. They are also associated with learning, memory, and the management of emotions, fear and stress. The damage done in the early years can make the brain – and the amygdala and hippocampus in particular – more vulnerable to stresses that come along later in life, suggest researchers.

Childhood’s traumatic events can affect brain in adulthood: Research

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