Cloning process to help preserve elite breeds of camels

Following the formal unveiling of the world’s first cloned camel; the Camel Reproduction Centre in Dubai has announced plans to use the cloning process as a means of preserving certain elite breeds of camels.

Speaking to newspapers at the time of the clone’s birth, Dr Lulu Skidmore, the scientific director of the CRC, said: “This significant breakthrough gives us a means of preserving the valuable genetics of our elite racing and milk producing camels in the future.”

The clone, known as Injaz, meaning ‘success’ in Arabic, was born eight months ago, using DNA extracted from the ovary of a slaughtered female camel. The DNA was then injected into an egg taken from a surrogate mother. The egg was then re-implanted into the surrogate’s womb and allowed to gestate.

Subsequent tests have shown that the cloned animal’s DNA is an exact copy of the dead mother.

Since her birth, the clone has been showing all the characteristics of a normal female camel, and is “eating and doing everything that she should be doing,” said Skidmore to WAM. She added that this marks a significant breakthrough in the cloning process, as it make Injaz the only successfully cloned camelid in the world.

The Camel Reproduction Centre was established 20 years ago and is financed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.