Scientists Announce First Genetically Pure Bison Calf Produced by Embryo Transfer
Posted on September 10, 2012
The Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo recently announced the birth of the first ever genetically pure American bison calf produced by embryo transfer. The calf, pictured with its mother in the above photo, was born on June 20th. The successful calf birth is the result of collaboration between Colorado State University, USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the American Prairie Reserve, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Colorado State University researchers, led by Colorado State University reproductive physiologist Dr. Jennifer Barfield, also used special techniques to remove the threat of disease, such as brucellosis, from the calf embryo before it was implanted in a disease-free female surrogate bison cow.
Dr. Barfield said in a statement, "This science illustrates that we can engineer breeding of pure-bred bison so that their valuable genetics can be incorporated into other herds or used to create new herds. We are able to produce bison that have pure genetics and are also free of any diseases that can afflict the bison population at Yellowstone."
Take a look: