World's First Cloned Buffalo Gives Birth to Calf

Garima - world's first cloned buffalo has given birth to a female calf, say scientists.

NDRI director A.K. Srivastava said that the calf, named Mahima, was born Friday at 1.51 p.m. by normal parturition.

In Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Enzyme Accelerates Malignant Stem Cell Cloning
An international team has identified a key enzyme in the reprogramming process that promotes malignant stem cell cloning and the growth of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

"In the world, it is the first calf born from a cloned buffalo, produced through hand guided cloning technique. The newborn, Mahima, weighing 32 kg, is keeping very good health and has started suckling of milk within 30 minutes of birth," Srivastava said in a statement.

He said that the NDRI Karnal had done pioneering work on cloned buffaloes.

"This institute is continuing this frontier technique for producing more cloned animals," he said.

Nobel Prize Winner Predicts Human Cloning Could Happen Within 50 Years
A British scientist who won this year's Nobel prize for medicine has predicted that human clones will be allowed and accepted within 50 years.

"Garima was born Aug 22, 2010, and attained early sexual maturity at 19 months of age compared to her contemporaries (around 28 months) and was inseminated with frozen-thawed semen of a progeny tested bull of NDRI No. 1875 on 27th March 2012, which resulted in conception. She was maintained under standard scientific management system during her gestation," a NDRI release said.

The birth of Mahima took place under veterinary medical assistance.

Karachi Bodybuilders Opt for Cow, Buffalo-steroids to Build 'Extra Muscles'
Supplements containing anabolic steroids, the type administered to cows and buffaloes, are being consumed by aspiring body builders in Karachi in the hope of building 'extra muscles'.

"The jubilant team of scientists informed that the mother and calf are in perfect health condition," the NDRI director said.

Source-IANS

High Dioxin Levels Found in Italian Buffalo Farms
Twenty Italian buffalo farms have tested positive for raised dioxin levels, the country's health minister said Friday, as the country began recalling tainted mozzarella from the market.