Two buffalo or not two buffalo?

A cloning success story

Improving genetic strains is always beneficial in animal industries- for example, better milk producers and improved meat animals. Although buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) can be a pest in Australia, other countries value these animals for milk, labour and other qualities.

So how is this relevant to cloning?

Even though cloning involves identical genetic stock, breeding programs using sperm from a cloned, genetically superior male buffalo would increase productivity in farms.

The method of cloning starts with unfertilised eggs (oocytes) being harvested from ovaries that have been discarded (usually from a slaughterhouse). These are then matured in vitro, and enucleated (the nucleus is removed, leaving the cell intact). The most interesting part is that the donor cells are taken from the ear of the buffalo that is to be cloned. These donor cells are inserted into the modified oocytes. If successful, a few more steps will result in a developing embryo.

Buffalo cloning has been partially successful in prior years. Earlier attempts resulted in embryos that developed slowly and did not result in a live birth.

In a recent development, this procedure was used to successfully implant swamp buffalo with the embryo. Four females were found pregnant and of these three females maintained pregnancy resulting in three healthy, female, cloned calves.

In conclusion, this is a significant new advancement in cloning. Any advance in cloning is also important when conservation of an endangered species is being considered. It is also a development that will impact on countries that use the buffalo in primary industries.

Posted by Anouk Goodson

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References:
Primary

Shi, D., Lu, F., Wei, Y., Cui, K., Yang, S., Wei, J. & Liu, Q. (2007) “Buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) cloned by nuclear transfer of somatic cells.” Biology of Reproduction, [Epub ahead of print]. Access online abstract here.

Sophon, S., Tasripoo, K. & Srisakwattana, K. (2002) "Cloning of swamp buffalo and cattle embryos using their ear fibroblast cells as donor nuclei and in vitro matured swamp buffalo oocytes as recipient cytoplasts.” Buffalo Bulletin 21(4), pp83-88. Access online here.

Secondary

Kitiyanant, Y., Saikhun, J., Chaisalee, B., White, K. & Pavasuthipaisit, K. (2001) “Somatic cell cloning in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): effects of interspecies cytoplasmic recipients and activation procedures.” Cloning and Stem Cells 3 (3), pp 97-104. Access online here.

Cruz, L. (2005)“Cloning Super Buffalo in the Philipines.” Stem Cell Research. Access online here.