Advancements in somatic cell nuclear transfer and future perspectives

摘要

Since the birth of the cloned sheep, Dolly, the technology of SCNT has been used to clone various species (reviewed by Niemann and Lucas-Hahn, 2012). Application of SCNT is not confined to producing clones but has a variety of applications (Figure 1).For example, SCNT can be used to preserve valuable genetic backgrounds that may face extinction. It can be also used to produce embryo-derived stem cells from a somatic cell by reprogramming somatic DNA. This can be a resource for regenerative medicineas patients with degenerative diseases could potentially generate stem cells to cure their diseases. In addition, SCNT can be used to produce genetically engineered animals by using donor cells that have been modified. Because there is no evidence of authentic embryonic stem cells in non-rodent species, the use of SCNT has been the only way to produce animals with specific genetic modifications. It has been over a decade since the first production of cloned pigs from adult cells using SCNT (Polejaeva et al., 2000), and SCNT is routinely used to produce cloned pigs for various uses. However, even with routine use, the efficiency of SCNT is still poor. Here we will summarize advancements in SCNT technology, especially in pigs, and discuss its future.