Benefits and Uses of Cloning and

Other Animal Biotechnologies:

U.S. Perspective

Diane Wray-Cahen, PhD

Senior Science Advisor
New Technologies and Production Methods Division
Office of Agreements and Scientific Affairs
United States Department of Agriculture
Washington, DC, USA
diane.wray-cahen@fas.usda.gov

May 2015, Prague

 Animal Biotechnologies in Context
Assisted
Reproductive
Technologies
▪ Artificial insemination
(1890s - 1900s)
▪ Embryo transfer (1950s)
▪ In vitro fertilization (1980s)
▪ Sex selection
▪ Embryo splitting
▪ Somatic cell nuclear
transfer (Cloning; 1990s)
Increase Distribution
Genetic
C Modification
O
N ▪ Mass selection
T ▪ Pedigree selection
▪ Progeny selection
I
▪ Marker-assisted selection
N
▪ Transgenics (1980s)
U (GE Animals)
U ▪ Genome-wide selection
M ▪ Gene Editing (2000s)
Change Genetic Makeup
Best selection of tools
in the toolbox . . .
for efficient progress
towards sustainable goals
Public misPerception of Cloning Uses

“Perfect Dairy Cow”

C
L
O
N
I
N
G
Expansion of Elite Breeding Stock
(clones are for breeding, not eating)
 Why Clone?

– Conserve and Resuscitate Genetics

• Insurance against loss
- Deceased animals
- Disease outbreaks
• Steers, geldings (polo ponies), mules
• Endangered species, rare breeds

– Increase Genetic Diversity

• Superior production animals
• Disease resistance
• Rare breeds or animals

– Increase rate of introduction of traits into herds

• Reduce generation time for genetic progress
 Saving Superior Genetics
(Man-O-Man2)
MAN-O-MAN
• Top dairy sire (produced #1
genomic bull in world)
• Respiratory infection and sick in
early life
• Never produced enough semen
• Died young
MAN-O-MAN2
• Produced many more semen
doses than Man-O-Man
• Excellent health
• Superior quality semen
• Semen in high demand globally
 From Beef to Breeding Stock
(Alpha and the Gammas)

Angus bull
named Alpha

Prime, Yield Grade 1 carcass:

• Pinnacle of genetic success
for beef industry
• Occurs 0.03% of the time

- Prime, Yield Grade 1 carcasses identified at slaughter

- Muscle tissue collected (dam and sire likely unknown)
- Bulls and heifers cloned from muscle to produce breeding stock
- Used increase animals producing highest quality meat
 Case Study: Curly Calf Syndrome
(Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita)

2008 GAR Precision 1680

Precision descendant
with curly calf syndrome
• Leading Angus sire
• Father of another top sire
• Highly desirable traits
• Natural mutation identified
• Fatal recessive gene
• (Not a clone)

Solution: Cloning used as tool to help eliminate

genetic defect from US Angus herds
N Bar Primrose 2424 Clones
• Leading dam of registered Angus cattle
• Does not carry 4 genetic recessives
• Positive traits, without lethal recessive
• 20 clones
What are the Barriers?
 Risk Assessments of Animal Clones by Country

Australia & 
Japan (FSC)

NZ (NZFSA)
NZ (FSANZ)

Argentina

EU (EFSA)
Australia
US (FDA)
Risk Assessments

France
China

UK
Conducted
(year)

2008 2009 2003 2012 ? 2008  2005 2010

Clones (x 4)
Food Safety:  safe as food from 
conventionally  not 
yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
bred animals accessed

Labeling:
none voluntary none none none none ? N/A

Tracing: National 
none yes registry none none ? yes

Moratorium  Voluntary  Voluntary 

none none none yes
for food: (industry) (industry)

Offspring are not clones
Food Safety: same as other 
sexually 
reproduced 
yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
animals
Tracing:
none none none none none none ? none
 No Food Safety Concerns

Concensus: Food products from

animal clones (and their offspring)
are as safe as food products from
conventionally bred animals.
Challenges and Barriers –
US Perspective

• Science-based risk assessments . . .

non-science-based regulatory
decisions
• Focus on production processes,
rather than safety of products
• Public uncertainty and concern
• Mis-information campaigns
 Animal Genetics Trade is Global

34% 51%
EU:12%
49%

EU: World’s
Largest importer
of Bovine Semen 1%

1%
1%

2%

Flow of genetics to the EU

Flow of genetics from USA (>$1M in trade) Livestock cloning reported
Estimated Global Market Share for Bovine Semen (%)
* Data compiled from FAS-PSD, FAOSTAT, Global Trade Atlas, EuroStat
Risks to Animal Health and Welfare?

• No unique risks (similar to other ARTs); Increased

frequency of adverse outcomes
• Most losses in early embryonic period (as with other ARTs)
• Embryonic loss is NOT a welfare issue
• No increased health risks after early neonatal period
• Adult clones as healthy as conventionally-bred animals

• Risks for Offspring are same as for other sexually

reproduced animals (no increased risks or frequency)
 Addressing Welfare Issues

• Surrogate dams and fetuses monitored throughout

pregnancy by veterinarian (including ultrasound)
• Not all species have increased animal health risks
• Efficiency is not a measure of animal welfare
• Cloning efficiencies improve with experience and skill
Skill and Experience Matters

Skill/Practice = Success Rates

Other factors:
• Cell lines (DNA)
• Ova (egg)
• Media choice
• Embryo selection
• Environmental conditions, etc.

Efficiencies for cloning can be

comparable to other reproductive
technologies like ET and IVF
 Effects of Technician on
Embryo Transfer (ET) Efficiency

Data: Individual ET technicians,

who transferred 250 or more embryos in Brazil

32

(Marquezini et al., 2005)

Animal Biotechnology Advancing

Livestock Genomes Mapped

• Identify sequences associated
with valued traits
• Genomic selection of sires
– Combine with cloning to reduce
generation time

Gene editing
• Easy, efficient and inexpensive
• Animals not distinguishable
from “natural” breeding
 Editing Genes to Improve
Animal Welfare

All female chicks

for laying hens

Polled

Dehorning
Editing Genes to Produce More Meat
with Fewer Resources, Less Waste

Gene
Deletion

(China)
Increased muscling (myostatin deletion)
Traits Targeted to Region of Need
Encourage development of
new ideas and innovations . . .

Opportunity to utilize and/or

combine the most appropriate
and targeted tools to meet the
challenges of the future
Next Generation . . .
More Options, Not Fewer
 Thank you!

diane.wray-cahen@fas.usda.gov