Iritani is quite confident of good results as there was only 1 hurdle (to obtain a core cell in good condition for the cloning) that has been solved.
In 2008, a Japanese scientist Dr. Teruhiko Wakayama from the Riken Center for Development Biology created a breakthrough in cloning when he had had successfully cloned mice from the cells of a mouse, frozen for 16 years, thus opening new techniques for cloning.
“The achievement rate in the cloning of cattle was poor until recently, but now stands at about 30 percent. I think we have a reasonable chance of success and a healthy mammoth might be born in four or five years, mentioned Iritani.
He added, “Now that the technical problems have been overcome, all we require is really a good sample of soft tissue from a frozen mammoth.”
In 1990s, soon after finding a well preserved frozen fossil, scientists had attempted to clone it, nevertheless, there attempts failed as the cells needed for the cloning had been severely damaged due to cold.
Iritani ready for next step
Though its all a theory so far, Iritani is excited at the prospect of resurrecting the mammoth and is set to take the subsequent step along with his team.
“Preparations to recognize this aim happen to be produced,” mentioned Iritani, who soon will likely be travelling to Siberia (possibly this summer) to obtain some healthy tissue samples from mammoths fossil.
“The achievement rate in the cloning of cattle was poor until recently, but now stands at about 30 percent. I assume we have a reasonable chance of achievement and a healthy mammoth may be born in four or 5 years, said Iritani.
After effectively extracting the nuclei, the team will be transplanting it into an African elephants womb, who will act as surrogate mother of the new born mammoth.
Possibly soon after 600 days of gestation period, a baby mammoth will likely be born.
“If a cloned embryo may be created, we need to discuss, prior to transplanting it into the womb, how to breed it and whether to display it towards the public, stated Iritani. After the mammoth is born, we’ll examine its ecology and genes to study why the species became extinct and other factors.
About mammoth
Mammoths, giant ancestors of modern day elephants, roamed earth some four.8 million to 4,500 years ago. They had been quite huge in their size with extended tusks and had been covered with extended hairs.
The fossils of these animals has interested scientists to know much more about them. However, till date its not identified how these creatures completely disappeared from the face of the earth.