Chinese scientists have reached a milestone in animal cloning by successfully delivering the world’s first cloned yak. The calf was born on July 11 through a cesarean section at a breeding base in Damxung County, located in Tibet’s Xizang Autonomous Region. Weighing 73.9 pounds (33.5 kilograms), the newborn black yak is healthy and strong, surprising researchers with its larger-than-average size.
This achievement was led by a team from Zhejiang University, who began working on the project in 2023. Their goal is to create stronger, healthier yak breeds that can produce more milk and meat and are more resistant to disease. For the high-altitude communities of Tibet, where yaks are essential to daily life.
The birth of this cloned yak is not just a scientific success; rather, it represents an innovation for agriculture in Tibet’s harsh and unique environment. Meanwhile, on the day of the delivery, researchers watched anxiously as the veterinary team performed the C-section. Moments later, the calf took its first breath.
“It was incredible to see the baby stand up and take its first steps so quickly,” said Dr. Li Wei, a lead researcher on the project. “This moment was the result of years of hard work and shows how far science has come.”
Yaks have been a lifeline for Tibet’s people for thousands of years. They provide food, clothing, fuel, and transportation in harsh terrain. The arrival of a cloned yak may improve the lives of herders who depend on these animals.
The team used a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer. This is the same method used to clone Dolly the sheep in Scotland in 1996. It involves taking DNA from a body cell of a yak. This DNA is inserted into an egg cell with its nucleus removed. Scientists then stimulate the egg to grow into an embryo and implant it into a surrogate yak.
Dr. Chen Yun, another researcher, explained, “This technique allows us to create animals with the best genetic traits. In the future, we can breed yaks that are bigger, healthier, and more productive.”
The project also included whole-genome selection, a modern breeding strategy to identify and pass on desirable qualities like higher milk yield and stronger disease resistance. This aims to build a new generation of yaks suited for Tibet’s extreme climate and high-altitude challenges.
Yaks are more than just animals in Tibet. They are part of the culture, economy, and survival of the people living on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. People use these animals for meat, milk, butter, and wool, and they use their dung as fuel in places where firewood is scarce.
People also use them for transportation. For centuries, yaks have carried goods across rugged mountain paths, helping communities stay connected in remote areas. Cloning stronger and healthier yaks could mean more reliable support for these traditional lifestyles.
“The yak is the backbone of our life here,” said Tsering Dorje, a local herder. “If science can give us yaks that are stronger and produce more, it will help our families and our future.”
The cloned yak’s arrival brings back memories of Dolly the sheep, the world’s first cloned mammal. Scientists cloned Dolly in 1996, and she proved that adult cells can reprogram to create new life, a discovery that changed genetics forever.
“We must make sure people use this science for good, to help communities and protect the environment,” Dr. Li said. “The cloned yak marks just the beginning.”
