Double cytoplast embryonic cloning improves but not development from mitotic pluripotent cells in cattle.

Cloning multiple animals from genomically selected donor embryos is inefficient but would accelerate genetic gain in dairy cattle breeding. To improve embryo cloning efficiency, we explored the idea that epigenetic reprogramming improves when donor cells are in mitosis. We derived primary cultures from bovine inner cell mass (ICM) cells of fertilized (IVF) embryos.

Aggregating embryonic but not somatic nuclear transfer embryos increases cloning efficiency in cattle.

Our objectives were to compare the cellular and molecular effects of aggregating bovine embryonic vs. somatic cell nuclear transfer (ECNT vs. SCNT) embryos and to determine whether aggregation can improve cattle cloning efficiency.