Subscribe now

HANDMADE cloning, a new way to create genetically identical copies of animals, is not only cheaper and simpler than existing methods, but appears to work better too.

“It’s so much simpler than anything we are doing today, it’s dramatic,” says Michael Bishop, ex-president of Infigen, a cattle-cloning company in Wisconsin. “It’s a huge step towards roboticising the whole process.”

The technique could speed up the introduction of cloning in farming, where the aim is to clone the best milk or meat-producing animals. And conservationists in South Africa could soon use it to clone endangered species.

The technique was developed by…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Popular articles

Trending New Scientist articles

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop