Ian Wilmut, the lead for the team to create the world’s first cloned animal/mammal, Dolly the sheep, dies at the age of 79. His work at the Roslin Institute, Edinburgh, laid the foundation for stem cell research.
Ian led the team at Roslin Institute for the creation of the first-ever cloned mammal dolly the sheep.
Wilmut’s most well-known accomplishment was the successful cloning of a sheep named Dolly in 1996 with the assistance of his colleague Keith Campbell.
Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), a procedure that has never been used to clone a mammal from an adult somatic cell, was employed in this instance.
Dolly’s birth was a huge genetic breakthrough that made Wilmut renowned all over the world.
Creation of Dolly
SCNT, also known as Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, is a groundbreaking method adapted for the development of dolly. By using this method, the nucleus of a somatic cell in this example, a mammary gland cell from a six-year-old Finn Dorset ewe was basically swapped out for the nucleus of an egg cell.
The somatic cell was reprogrammed to act like a fertilised egg throughout this procedure, enabling it to grow into a cloned creature.
Dolly’s successful cloning was a remarkable accomplishment, but it wasn’t without difficulties. Dolly’s birth signalled a turning point in the area of cloning because many earlier attempts had been unsuccessful.
The researchers had to overcome challenges brought on by telomere shortening, cell ageing, and other biological obstacles.
On February 24, 1997, a report in the magazine Nature revealed Dolly’s birth to the world.
Stem Cell Research
Wilmut also worked on stem cell research, exploring how stem cells may be used in regenerative medicine. His contributions to this sector have profound effects on medical research and give promise for curing and treatments for a range of diseases and injuries.
Awards
Ian’s contribution to his research provides more impact and methods for cloning and stem cell research. These contributions have earned him numerous awards including:
- The Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine in 2008.
- The Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research in 2013.
- The Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 2001.
Impact
The world of science will never forget Ian Wilmut’s contributions to genetics, cloning, and stem cell research. His groundbreaking work has improved our understanding of biology and created new opportunities for medical study and therapy. His dedication to ethical issues in research also acts as a role model for responsible scientific investigation. The future of genetics and biotechnology is still being influenced by Wilmut’s legacy.
Published: 12-September-2023
Updated:
Graduated from the University of Kerala with B.Sc. Botany and Biotechnology. M.Sc. Biotechnology from the University of Kerala. Attended certificate course in Artificial Intelligence for Everyone from Deeplearning.AI, Influenza Prevention and Control from World Health Organization. Attended workshops related to Bioinformatics at the University of Kerala. 3 years of experience in website management. Experience in WordPress, Blogger, Google Analytics, and Google Search Console.
