In 2000, at the annual meeting of the International Embryo Transfer Society, more than 1,000 scholars coming from 42 countries called Yang Xiangzhong's achievement as one of the most important scientific and technological achievements in the 20th century, even much more important than the Dolly project, both scientifically and commercially..
2nd-generation Bull Clone Successful
On May 23, 2004.Yang Xiangzhong announced another new achievement: a clone of a cloned prized bull thriving on a Japanese farm, living proof that "serial cloning" can successfully create life besides mice.
The second- generation cloned bulls were actually born on Jan. 23, 2000, and March 6, 2000 separately. Although one of the two calves died of anemia and infection shortly after birth, the second has survived over four years in apparent good health, indistinguishable from its naturally born peers.
Yang explained the reason why they held off reporting this major achievement until 2004, saying., "We wanted to be sure that the second generation bull clone could mature normally, and prove fertile with its health certain. Only then we should claim our success."
Yang also revealed that he and his team attempted to produce third-generation clones from the same bull, but their efforts failed after implanting 30 cloned embryos in 30 recipient cows.
Nevertheless, Yang is still extremely hopeful that his re-cloning work will help him uncover key genes responsible for the errors in his research.
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