SHANGHAI ¨C Chinese scientists have made clones of a gene-edited macaque to aid research of circadian-rhythm disorders that are linked to sleep problems, depression and Alzheimer¡¯s disease, the official Xinhua News Agency said on Thursday. It is the first time multiple clones have been made from a gene-edited monkey for biomedical research, the agency said.
The clones were born at the Institute of Neuroscience at the China Academy of Sciences in Shanghai.
A gene-edited monkey most prone to the disorder was selected as a donor, and its fibroblasts were used to make five cloned monkeys, Xinhua said, citing National Science Review, a Chinese journal.
The official China Daily said the clones would pave the way for more research into such problems in humans, which have become a major mental health concern.
The cloned monkeys already show signs of ¡°negative behavior,¡± including sleep disorders, as well as elevated levels of anxiety and ¡°schizophrenia-like behaviors,¡± the paper added.
Xinhua said the program, supervised by the institute¡¯s ethics panel, was in line with international ethical standards for animal research.
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