In the summer of 1995, two unique lambs were born in Scotland. They were not product of the traditional sperm and egg fertilization method, but rather, they were clones of an embryo. This event proved to the world that cells could be genetically programmed in an embryotic state. The scientists involved in this research had taken cells from a mature ewe to produce the first mammal to be cloned from an adult, Dolly, was a lamb cloned from an adult ewe. This procedure has drawn significant controversy around the world.
Cloning is done through a process of nuclear transfer.
The donor, and the recipient are then fused together. The product of this fusion starts to develop like a normal embryo. Dolly may have been the first, but since that cloning other animals, such as, cattle and mice have been successfully cloned. Cloning presents many issues to consider. The ability of scientists to produce clones or offspring from cultured cells makes it possible to genetically modify animal cells.