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Scientists in Peru attempt to clone Alpacas and LLamas

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Jaime Ruiz Bejar (center) with his team of scientists.

© ANDINA

(LIP-ir) -- In an attempt to genetically improve the species, a group of scientists from the University of Huancavelica, led by specialist Jamie Ruiz Bejar, is working on cloning a Peruvian alpaca for the first time.

In statements made to Andina news agency, Bejar explained that the first step in the process had involved the in vitro reproduction of embryos using choice female eggs.

He stated that semen had not been necessary for the fertilization process.

"We take the ovaries out and use a syringe to extract the oocytes, we then mix them with a solution so they keep their ph and wait for them to mature naturally", said the specialist.

It was reported that after 26 hours of maturing, chemical activation takes place. 48 hours later zygotes are produced and after eight days scientists have embryos. This is the stage the scientists from the University of Huancavelica are in.

"It's long-term work, but we hope to have the country's first trans-genetic camelid", said Bejar. "We've produced 300 alpaca embryos, but it's complicated and we've only just begun. The last step is cloning."

He explained that the goal was to improve the quality of alpacas and llamas in Peru.

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# Dr Dolittle says :
3 March, 2008 [ 10:02 ]

I have only two words to say on this news item.
Pushmi-pullyu

# Paracas Guy says :
3 March, 2008 [ 14:00 ]

Good. I just love Alpaca meat.

# Jules says :
3 March, 2008 [ 17:25 ]

         I found this article very interesting because it educates the reader
         in understanding that there is a scientific community in Peru.
 
         Perhaps, you may even expand your reporting to include science and

         technology in Peru.

# diane hansen says :
7 March, 2008 [ 13:05 ]

     Why the need to improve them.  I thought they were perfect the way they were.

# Ronald Nyberg says :
2 May, 2008 [ 00:17 ]

With out the complete understanding of the pre spanish alpaca DNA this is not going to do much, work on understanding the alpaca geome first then look at what you want to clone. At this point this is just making a bunch of the same unknown value alpaca as most all of them have some mixed blood in thier back ground now anyway. If you are going to do this you might as well start with Paco Vicuna mixed with the best alpacas you can find and put that blood back in the mix with alpacas. That would be faster in fiber improvment and raise the production of a higher value fiber. Let the new studs out to the many small breeders and move them after 1 season to a new area and mix the blood lines in. Now the lama blood is mixed every where and thats the problem. Or do you want to just maintain control of a little better alpaca in the hands of the big breeders. You need to raise the standard of living for the little guys. That should be the goal. Accoyo gets a higher price for fiber so should everybody. Plant hay and sell it cheap to let them get thru the cold season in better shape that might save more of the better blood llines too do not focus on just one thing that would be a mistake!  Keep thinking  Ron Nyberg