A team of Chinese scientists has achieved a groundbreaking feat in primate research by successfully delivering the world’s first live-birth chimeric monkey. This monkey, uniquely exhibiting green fluorescent signals in various body parts, marks a significant stride in the fields of genetic engineering and stem cell research.
In a study published on November 9 in the journal Cell, the researchers detail this landmark achievement. They created the chimeric monkey using cells from two different embryos of the same monkey species, a method previously successful only in smaller mammals like rats and mice. This research was conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and represents a major step in understanding stem cell pluripotency among primates.
Senior author Zhen Liu emphasized the study’s significance for genetic engineering and species conservation, noting its potential to enhance monkey models for neurological and other biomedical research.
The research utilized cynomolgus monkeys, commonly used in biomedical studies. The team first developed nine stem cell lines from blastocyst embryos, aged seven days. These cells were cultured to increase their differentiation potential. The researchers confirmed the cells’ pluripotency and labeled them with green fluorescent protein for tracking purposes.
The study’s critical phase involved injecting selected stem cells into early-stage monkey embryos, resulting in 12 pregnancies and six live births. Notably, one live-born monkey and a miscarried fetus showed substantial chimerism, with stem-cell-derived cells found throughout their bodies, including in vital organs like the brain, heart, and liver. The live monkey demonstrated a significant stem cell contribution, averaging 67% across 26 tissue types.
Co-corresponding authors Miguel Esteban of BGI Research and CAS and Qiang Sun of CAS noted the study’s contribution to understanding pluripotent stem cells in primates and future plans to enhance the efficiency of chimeric monkey generation.
The research, supported by several Chinese national and scientific agencies, lays the groundwork for further exploration into the developmental potential and survival mechanisms of chimeric embryos in primates.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chimeric Monkey Research
What is a chimeric monkey?
A chimeric monkey is an organism composed of cells from two different embryos of the same species. This recent breakthrough involved a monkey with cells that originated from monkey stem cell lines, demonstrating green fluorescence in various body parts.
How was the first live-birth chimeric monkey created?
The first live-birth chimeric monkey was created by Chinese researchers using cells from two genetically distinct monkey embryos. These cells were cultured and then injected into early-stage monkey embryos, resulting in several pregnancies and the birth of chimeric monkeys.
What is the significance of this chimeric monkey research?
This research is significant as it marks the first successful creation of a chimeric monkey, a feat previously achieved only in smaller mammals. It opens new avenues in understanding stem cell pluripotency and has implications for genetic engineering and biomedical research, especially in developing precise monkey models for neurological disease studies.
What are the implications of this research in biomedical studies?
This breakthrough has several implications in biomedical studies, including the potential for better understanding and treatment of neurological diseases. It can help in the development of more accurate animal models for research and could play a role in species conservation and genetic engineering.
Who conducted this research and where was it published?
This research was conducted by a team of scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and other Chinese research institutions. The details of the research were published in the journal Cell on November 9.
More about Chimeric Monkey Research
- Chimeric Monkey Breakthrough Published in Cell
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Announcement on Chimeric Monkey Research
- Overview of Stem Cell Research in Primates
- Genetic Engineering and Biomedical Studies Advances
4 comments
Is this even ethical? where do we draw the line in genetic engineering, makes me wonder what are the long term implications of such experiments.
i read the article, but still hard to grasp how they do this stuff, mixing cells from different embryos, it’s like nature on steroids.
Can’t believe they actually made a monkey that glows green! what’s next, superhumans? kinda scary but fascinating.
wow, this is like sci-fi becoming reality, really amazing to see such advances in science, specially in genetics and stem cell research.