VARIOUS: South Africa introduces it's first cloned animal, the calf, Futhi

Record ID: 459336

  • Title: VARIOUS: South Africa introduces it's first cloned animal, the calf, Futhi
  • Date: 3rd September 2003
  • Summary: (L!2) BRITS, SOUTH AFRICA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FUTHI, THE CLONED CALF, WALKING AROUND HER PEN PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PHOTOS FUTHI EATING/SNIFFING GRASS VARIOUS OF LMJC865, STANDING NEAR A FENCE MANY CALVES IN AN ENCLOSED AREA FUTHI SCRATCHING HERSELF (SOUNDBITE)(English) COW LMJC865 OWNER, DOCTOR KOBUS HENDRICKS, SAYING: "I think it's safe, you are only creating an identical animal, in every other sense. It's a normal animal. So, there can't be anything wrong with the meat or the milk or anything else." DOCTOR MORNE DE LA REY, CLONING RESEARCH SCIENTIST WORKING IN A LABORATORY HANDS FITTING SOMETHING TOGETHER DOCTOR MORNE DE LA REY LOOKING THROUGH MICROSCOPE CLOSE UP OF PETRI DISH DOCTOR MORNE DE LA REY WORKING PETRI DISH
  • Embargoed: 18th September 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JOHANNESBURG, BRITS, FREESTATE, SOUTH AFRICA/NGONG HILLS, KENYA/EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, UNKNOWN LOCATIONS, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Science / Technology
  • Reuters ID: LVA1W8H84MO1T77N6NWAJIOMUKLW
  • Story Text: The African continent's first cloned animal, Futhi, a calf was recently born in Brits, South Africa but is Africa ready for this new development? She looks like any normal calf but baby Futhi is not your average bovine. Genetically, she is the identical twin of a cow who's nine years older than she is -- Futhi is officially the continent's first cloned animal.
    Africa's latest celebrity was born four months ago at a research centre in Brits, 65 kilometres Northeast of Johannesburg.
    In Zulu her name means 'replica'.
    The cow that she's a replica of is simply known as LMJC865 -- a champion milk producer. Ordinarily, this cow would have been used to breed, her offspring conceived through intercourse with a male animal, giving the calf the genes of both parents.
    But, in Futhi's case, there was no need for a father -- all her genes came from LMJC865.
    Dr. Kobus Hendricks, the owner of cow 'LMJC865' says, "I think it's safe, you are only creating an identical animal, in every other sense. It's a normal animal. So, there can't be any thing wrong with the meat or the milk or anything else."
    Dr. Morne De La Rey is one of the brains behind the project.
    Every cell of the body contains DNA -- or genetic information. So De La Rey extracted one cell from LMJC865, took out the DNA and put it in an egg cell. Now that it had the full genetic material, the egg cell thought it was fertilised and Futhi started to grow. It may sound li ke science fiction but this practise exists since the late 1970's.
    Still, the first cloned mammal, Dolly, was not born until 1996. She was able to have her own offspring -- but it wasn't all a success story.
    She had arthritis and lung disease, and her creators had to put her down. Why she was so ill is still unknown -- but those who oppose cloning claim that it may have caused genetic defects -- and her early demise.
    As opposed to Dolly, Futhi is growing up in the open air, on sunshine, green grass and lots of love. Dr. De La Rey sweeps aside the critics -- he's convinced that this is the way forward.
    Dr. Morne De La Rey, a Cloning Research Scientist says: "To replicate high producing or high genetic merit animals will be its main benefit. If one can get animals to produce more milk than they're doing at the moment in such a way it's just an extra technique on top of artificial insemination, intro-transfers and in-vitro fertilization to add to the greater demand of nutrition and feeding of people in Africa."
    That cloning can rescue Africa's people from starvation is doubtful -- but recreating high performing animals could be of interest to breeders. Still, they've been doing it their on way for centuries -- simply by mating the healthiest animals.
    Jannie Bothma, a cattle breeder and farmer has this to say on cloning: "Cloning is coming a long way. I think from our side and from the breeders side there are different ways to get genetics to other cattle. So, I think it's a good thing but it must be controlled. It must be very strictly controlled and if it's not going to be handled right I have a problem with it."
    The genes of these cattle in East Africa have been selected by nature. Drought and pests have made the Zebu a resilient and hardy breed.
    The Maasai are traditionally pastoralists, raising and herding cattle. Over 400,000 live in Kenya today and most still have their cows, who are not only their most prized possession but also respected and loved. One would think that cloning would be welcomed with open arms by a people so attached to their animals.
    Peter Ole Sakuda, a Maasai livestock owner in Kenya says, "It is difficult because we believe nature has to play its role. We are very cautious when it comes to modern methods. It took us a very long time even to accept dipping our cattle to eliminate ticks. Cloning is something that's really alien to us, because we are wary of modern things.
    We didn't even accept modern medicine straight away. So it will take a long time, because we believe that only God can give life and ' that's a belief that's deeply entrenched in our culture."
    But even if traditional cattle owners were to give their blessing, it's unlikely to affect pastoralists like Peter any time soon.
    The consumers of South Africa's meat are closer to where it's all happening -- and here, opinions on eating meat from cloned animals are divided.
    "Cloning -- cloning of cows. I don't think it's so bad.
    Lambs -- it's all right also. I mean, hopefully it'll bring the price of meat down, we'll be able to afford it for the poorer people of the country. So I think it's a good idea,"
    says an unidentified man in South Africa.
    An unidentified consumer has a different view; "God creates things in his own way and then we are trying to c ircumvent and take the alternative route which is not proper. So we are trying to make things on our own we are playing God in some way and that for me is not the right way, cloning is not the right way."
    Dr. Morne De La Rey says, "God is the only person the only force that can give life. We can't give life and it's only due to Him that a calf like this can be born. And so, not at all, I don't think we're playing God God is assisting us in doing something for the future."
    With or without God's help, the idea of a world full of copied individuals isn't everyone's cup of tea: is human selection really preferable to natural selection, where the environment decides which species will make it, and which one won't? But -- in spite of the controversy surrounding her, Futhi sleeps easy -- at peace with the world.
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