Birth of calf expected after ‘handmade cloning’

Even though Dolly the Sheep was famously born back in 1996, traditional cloning has proved to be too expensive to be viable in the cattle industry. However, in 2001, Professor Gábor Vajta and Dr Ian Lewis were involved - at the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development (now the Monash Institute of Medical Research) - in the development of a ‘handmade cloning’ technique. A simple dissecting microscope and micro blade were used to dissect and reconstruct the embryo to affect ‘somatic cell nuclear transfer’, producing 10 calves.

On moving to Denmark, Professor Vajta further developed the technique and, after three years, produced cloned pig embryos. These were the first cloned animals produced in Scandinavia. In 2004, Professor Vajta was involved in the production of the first cloned animal (cow) in Africa, produced under compromised conditions in a small lab close to Pretoria.

But the technique was still very demanding, and consequently it has not progressed to widespread use.

More recently, after taking on a position with CQUniversity, Professor Vajta has been working on a more viable handmade cloning technique in collaboration with local firm Australian Reproductive Technologies (ART). He has reported success with the very first attempt.

“It is like starting a car that has been in the garage for 10 years, and winning a Formula 1 race without oil change and tyre pressure adjustment. This result is extremely promising for the future large-scale application - my dream for 12 years,” Professor Vajta said.

The result of the latest handmade cloning has been successfully implanted, with a pregnancy achieved on the second attempt and a calf due to be born in February.

ART Managing Director Simon Walton says the overall goal is to find the best way to commercialise cloning for the benefit of the cattle industry.

“Since Dolly the Sheep was produced from one of 273 embryos, cloning has not really taken off. The technique is still expensive at between $15,000-30,000 per clone and the success rate has only improved to around 1 in 20,” Walton said.

“The new technique will continue at an experimental level for a while, but longer-term, the goal is a viable commercial, industrial application.”