description Tetra Overview
Born in 1999 at the Oregon primate research center now known as the Oregon National Primate Research Center, Tetra was a female rhesus macaque produced through embryo splitting. Also called artificial twinning, this method separates an early embryo into parts that can continue developing independently. It differs from somatic cell nuclear transfer, the technique associated with Dolly the sheep, which uses a nucleus from a body cell. Tetra's milestone was the successful birth of a monkey through embryo splitting, rather than the first instance of any form of primate cloning.
Earlier monkeys had been produced using nuclear transfer from embryonic cells. Her story suits readers interested in reproductive biology and the meaning of the word clone. It shows why the source of the cells and the method used matter when comparing scientific achievements that are often grouped under the same label.
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What kind of monkey was Tetra?
Tetra was a rhesus macaque, a species of Old World monkey commonly used in scientific research. She was born in the year 1999 at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center.
Why is the rhesus macaque Tetra famous?
Tetra is notable in the scientific community for being the first cloned primate to be successfully produced via embryo splitting. This process is also scientifically known as artificial twinning.
How was Tetra the monkey cloned?
Unlike later cloning methods that use somatic cell nuclear transfer (like Dolly the sheep), Tetra was created by splitting an embryo in its early stages. The split embryos were then implanted into surrogate mothers.
When exactly was Tetra the cloned monkey born?
Tetra was born in 1999, marking a significant milestone in primate genetic research. She was the only live birth from a series of split-embryo experiments conducted by the Oregon-based research team.
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