Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer in Laboratory Animals; Practical Approach to Livestock Animals

After the first success of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in 1997 (Wilmut at al., 2008), a great deal of researches have examined whether any somatic cell types could be reprogrammed in ooplasm and any mammalian species could be adopted for cloning such as endangered animals. It is clear that the successful rate of animal cloning is not dramatically improved after the first success in 1997. One of the possible reasons for the low success is the failure of reprogramming of somatic cells in ooplasm after nuclear transfer. The failure of the reprogramming causes varied abnormalities to SCNT embryos and results in low successful rate. The gradual loss of SCNT embryos at any developmental stages from nuclear transfer to parturition remains unclear. We examined whether any donor cell types could be reprogrammed in ooplasm, and how to improve the developmental potential of SCNT embryos in vitro and in vivo.