Dubai is no stranger to pioneers and game-changers, and its foray into the world of animal cloning is no exception. The Dubai-based Camel Reproduction Centre has become the first of its kind in the world by successfully cloning a camel, something that has never been done before.
The concept of camel cloning was first suggested by a group of Italian scientists in 2008 and in March of this year the Dubai-based Camel Reproduction Centre made history by cloning their first female dromedary camel — named Injaz. The entire process was overseen by experts from both the Dubai Municipality and the Camel Reproduction Centre, and the cloning process was reportedly completed in a period of 18 months.
While Injaz is the first known cloned camel in the region, the project is part of a larger effort to help ensure the sustainability of Arabian camel breeds and the breeding industry. Camels are an integral part of Arab culture, and the cloning of certain desirable traits in the animals can help to preserve certain genetic lines.
In addition to this, the Camel Reproduction Centre is also looking to use cloning to increase the lifespans of older, adult camels. Cloned camels can serve as surrogate mothers, enabling the offspring to carry on the bloodlines of the original adult. This could prove to be invaluable to camel farming and breeding operations, both in the region and abroad.
This is the first foray that Dubai has made into the field of animal cloning, but it is likely that this will not be the last. In the future, experts predict that cloning could be used to help with the conservation and rehabilitation of endangered species, as well as create new livestock animals without necessarily relying on traditional breeding techniques.
It is clear that Dubai has a deep history with camels, and the recent initiation of a cloning business here is equally as deep. Injaz may be the first known clone in the region, but many experts believe that this is just the beginning. With continued success of the burgeoning cloning business, many believe that Dubai could become a major player in the global world of animal cloning.
A Dubais.blog First Publication.