Scientists Successfully Clone Endangered Black-Footed Ferrets

In a groundbreaking conservation effort , scientists have successfully cloned endangered black-footed ferrets using cells from a ferret that died over 30 years ago. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that a black-footed ferret named Elizabeth Ann was born on December 10, 2020, becoming the first cloned endangered species native to North America.

Black-footed ferrets, once thought to be extinct, were rediscovered in 1981 in Wyoming. Since then, a captive breeding program has helped recover the species, but the population remains fragile due to lack of genetic diversity. All living ferrets today are descended from just seven individuals, making them highly susceptible to diseases.

To address this issue, scientists at ViaGen Pets & Equine, a pet cloning company, used DNA from a black-footed ferret named Willa who died in 1988 and whose remains were frozen. They created embryos and implanted them into a domestic ferret surrogate. Elizabeth Ann, the resulting clone, carries Willa's genetic material, effectively increasing the species' genetic diversity.

Why this matters: The successful cloning of the black-footed ferret opens up new possibilities for conserving endangered species and boosting genetic diversity in small populations. This breakthrough could potentially be applied to other threatened species, offering a new tool in the fight against extinction.

Noreen Walsh, director of the Fish and Wildlife Service's Mountain-Prairie Region, emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, "Although this research is preliminary, it is the first cloning of a native endangered species in North America, and it provides a promising tool for continued efforts to conserve the black-footed ferret."

While Elizabeth Ann will not be released into the wild, she will remain in captivity for further research and potential breeding. Her birth represents a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to save the black-footed ferret from extinction and maintain the species' genetic health for future generations.

Key Takeaways

• Scientists cloned endangered black-footed ferret using 30-year-old cells.
• Elizabeth Ann, the clone, is the first of its kind in North America.
• Cloning aims to boost genetic diversity in the species, which is highly susceptible to diseases.
• This breakthrough could be applied to conserve other endangered species.
• Elizabeth Ann will remain in captivity for research and potential breeding.