Retro — the first rhesus monkey cloned using a modified SCNT method
A step closer to human reproductive cloning
In a groundbreaking development, scientists in China have announced the successful cloning of a healthy rhesus monkey named Retro, marking a significant milestone in the field of cloning technology. This breakthrough, facilitated by a novel approach to somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), has not only demonstrated the potential to clone primates efficiently but has also opened a window into a future possibility of human reproductive cloning.
The cloning of Retro, a two-year-old rhesus monkey, by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, overcame previous challenges in cloning primates, including low success rates and placental abnormalities.
By replacing the trophoblast cells - which later develop into the placenta - with those from a healthy, non-cloned embryo, the scientists were able to significantly improve the success rate of cloning by SCNT.
This advancement could pave the way for creating identical rhesus monkeys for medical research, enhancing our understanding of diseases and the development of new drugs.
The success of Retro's cloning, despite the very low success rate (less than one percent of initial embryos survived), signals a potential paradigm shift in reproductive technology and its applications. While the primary focus of this research is on medical and scientific inquiry, it has implications for human reproductive cloning.
Note that your clone would be a baby, specifically your "twin" baby brother or sister.
Cloning has nothing to do with living forever, soul, consciousness, etc.
As to the objectionable use of cloning, that would be covered under current laws - e.g. you are not allowed to harvest organs from any baby. On the other hand, having the ability to have a cloned twin of a dead child would be a godsend for bereaved parents.