Cloning used to defeat extinction

Scientists in Spain are planning to use cloning to reverse the extinction of a native species of mammal. Last week, the last surviving Pyrenean ibex (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica), a mountain goat, was killed by a falling tree in the Ordesa National Park in Spain. The goat had not responded to any recent attempts to crossbreed her with relatives from another Hispanic mountain goat species.

Earlier this year, scientists had captured her and taken tissue samples so that a cloning process could be started. The cell tissues have been stored while the scientists seek permission and funding from the Spanish government to start the cloning process. The scientists have been unable to predict how long the samples taken will remain viable to clone. Only female goats can be cloned from the tissue, so the creation of a new population of the Pyrenean ibex will rely on crossbreeding with male goats from similar subspecies. In this respect the ibex will still technically be extinct, apart from the clones produced. However, it is possible to preserve the genetic make-up of the goats, as has been proved before.

American scientists have used cells taken from a Brahman bull before its death to produce a clone. Chinese scientists have already announced the creation of a giant panda embryo from cloning technology, in their attempt to preserve the species.