Mystery over death of Australia's first cloned sheep

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Subject : Matilda dies, why? (Fwd from Gene Ethics)

 

Mystery over death of Australia's first cloned sheep

 

7 February 2003

 

Reuters News

English

© 2003 Reuters Limited

 

SYDNEY, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Australia's first cloned sheep has died

despite

being in apparent good health, but any chance of getting to the root of

the

mysterious death was lost when its decomposing carcass was cremated.

 

The cremation of the merino ewe " Matilda " raised eyebrows among

opponents

of cloning and gene technology, who lamented that there would be no

further

opportunity to establish what happened.

 

Rob Lewis, executive director of the South Australian Research and

Development Institute, said on Friday that " Matilda " died last Saturday

and

was not found until the following day.

 

An autopsy failed to find any reason for the ewe's abrupt death and the

carcass was cremated because it had decomposed after lying out in the

open

in hot summer conditions.

 

" She was very healthy, and very sprightly...on the day she died, " Lewis

told Reuters.

 

" There was nothing that was grossly obvious in the organs and outer

body.

The body's been cremated because it was in a very bad state. To be quite

 

honest, it was clearly pongy (smelly), very pongy. "

 

Matilda became Australia's first cloned sheep in 2000 and marked the

start

of efforts to produce rare sheep with outstanding genes to boost meat

and

fleece production.

 

Australia is the world's biggest raw wool exporter, sending around A$4

billion ($2.4 billion) worth overseas each year from its flock of around

 

100 million sheep.

 

Matilda was created by technology similar to that which produced Dolly,

the

world's first cloned sheep, in Scotland. Lewis said he did not believe

premature ageing - an affliction which affected Dolly - lay behind

Matilda's demise.

 

Critics of animal cloning were surprised that greater efforts were not

made

to establish the cause of death.

 

" Animals don't die and decompose in five minutes, " said Bob Phelps of

the

Gene Ethics Network. " That's not really very plausible. "

 

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Bob Phelps

Executive Director

GeneEthics Network

Level 1, 60 Leicester St, Carlton 3053 Australia

Tel: 03 9347 4500 {Int Code 613} or 1300 133868

email: info (Bob Phelps)

WWW: http://www.geneethics.org

 

The problem with the gene pool is, there is no lifeguard.

 

Knowing is not enough, you must also act.

 

" If the people will lead, the leaders will follow. " David Suzuki

 

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