The method was designed to stimulate the speed and improve the efficiency of the former cloning procedures to facilitate the production of recombinant proteins and organs for xenotransplantation, said Dr. Mohammad Hossein Nasr Esfahani, principle investigator of the project at Royan Institute.
“Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another.”
The research team examined the newly designed technique through cloning and transfer of 50 embryos at the Royan Institute.
According to the achieved results, nine pregnancies were positive, which is the highest reported rate in the world.
“In March 2013, of nine positive pregnancies in sample goats, eight transgenic animals were born and they are all in perfect health," Dr. Esfahani explained.
Established in 2004, Royan Institute for Animal Biotechnology was launched with the purpose of improving research in reproduction, development, cell and molecular biology.
Well known for its cloned animals, the Institute also covers many researches in the fields of bioengineering and reproductive technology.
SHI/SHI