Mystery of cloned sheep death

Matilda, Australia's first cloned sheep, has died suddenly from an unknown cause. Normally sheep have an average life-expectancy of 12-14 years, but Matilda was just three years old.

Rob Lewis, director of the South Australian Research Institute said that Matilda was not found until the day after her death. A post-mortem examination failed to establish what had caused her death, and the body was cremated. Mr Lewis said that Matilda had been 'particularly sprightly and her death was very unexpected. There was nothing that was grossly obvious in the organs and outer body'.

Matilda's untimely death has raised new concerns about the welfare of cloned animals. Opponents of cloning have criticised the fact she was cremated so quickly - they argue that further tests should have been carried out to determine whether she had suffered from any conditions that may have resulted from the fact that she was a clone.