The Wire

Dolly the sheep was first cloned more than thirty years ago and since then, mice, rabbits, cows and even other monkeys have been cloned using a technique called “somatic cell nuclear transfer”.

The process is notoriously difficult, with only 1 to 3 per cent of clones resulting in live births.

Now, Chinese scientists have unveiled a cloned rhesus monkey that has successfully lived into adulthood, just having turned three. Named “Retro”, he is making waves in the research community. We explore why that is, and what makes “Retro” so special.