The practical benefits of cloning monkeys
Chinese scientists have succeeded in cloning primates but the idea that humans may be next is fanciful; the aim is curing diseases, not bringing loved ones back to life
The breakthrough by Chinese scientists in cloning monkeys was bound to lead to a question: are humans next? Images of the two macaques, wide-eyed and long-legged, cute and vulnerable in the same way as a baby, gave the impression of that moment being close.
But while the team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ institute of neuroscience believed that in principle, it would be possible using the same technique, that was not the aim.
In keeping with Beijing’s goal of China becoming a research powerhouse and meeting social challenges, the focus is on curing diseases.
Monkeys, because of their genetic similarities to humans, are an integral part of scientific research into brain diseases, cancers and other afflictions.
Tens of thousands are taken from the wild each year to the world’s laboratories for experiments. The benefits of creating large numbers of animals with particular genetic conditions for research so that treatments can be produced is worthy. The macaque twins, named Hua Hua and Zhong Zhong, are the first of a number of clones expected to be born in coming months.