The Poor Sheep Clone Dolly
 Dolly July 5, 1996 - February 14, 2003 |
When your existence is solely for the benefit of others what good is it ?
There was a sheep named Dolly which was cloned from 3 mothers via a process called "nuclear transfer":
| 1 | provided the egg |
| 1 | provided the genetics from a somatic (body) cell |
| 1 | carried and gave birth to the clone |
The birth of Dolly was announced on this day in 1997.
She had six offspring who were normal by all accounts. When she was 4 years old it is claimed that she developed arthritis and began walking stiffly.
This claim has been subsequently disputed in the literature.
On February 14, 2003, Dolly was euthanised because she was suffering with progressive lung disease and alleged severe arthritis. It was discovered later that she had developed cancer as well.
Thus ended the life of "the world's most famous sheep". Sad to think that her total existence was for research.
Nothing left to the imagination. Other clones of this animal have grown normally and lived a full life. As for Dolly, she was stuffed and placed on display as the item of genetic curiosa she is.
Again, nothing in her life really benefited her.