The cloned ferret successfully gave birth

Antonia, a cloned black-footed ferret, gave birth to two healthy pups, marking the first time clones of a threatened species in the United States have successfully bred. IFL Science reported on November 5.

Antonia and her cloned sisters Elizabeth-Ann and Noreen were born from the frozen cells of Willa, a black-footed ferret who died in 1988. Elizabeth-Ann was born in 2020, while Antonia and Noreen were born earlier this year. now.

Willa’s genetic material is preserved by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Frozen Zoo. This is important because Willa’s DNA contained three times the amount of genetic variation as today’s black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes).

The reason for this decrease in genetic diversity is that every black-footed ferret alive today was born from just 7 individuals. Reduced genetic diversity puts them at risk of certain diseases. Therefore, scientists hope that bringing Willa’s genes back into the gene pool can restore the necessary diversity.

They expected Elizabeth-Ann to be the first to have children, but an underdeveloped reproductive system and an illness prevented that. Now, Antonia has made history for black-footed ferrets by becoming the first clone of this endangered species to breed.

Two precious calves were born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia. Experts here are very excited about their appearance.

“Antonia’s successful breeding and subsequent birth marks a major milestone in the conservation of this threatened species. Partners in the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Program continue their efforts creative and inspiring to protect this species, becoming a model for other conservation programs globally,” said Paul Marinari, senior manager at Smithsonian’s NZCBI.