Part X: Can you Transfer Cloned Embryos from Two Different Animals into the Same Recipient?

Cloning Part X: Can you Transfer Cloned Embryos from Two Different Animals into the Same Recipient?
By: Diane Broek

In this cloning blog, we attempt to answer your questions and share some of the frequently asked questions we encounter.   If you have a question you would like to ask, please don’t hesitate to send an email inquiry to diane.broek@transova.com and we will answer you immediately, but may also include it in this blog series if we have not addressed that topic before.  The good news is that we will also enter your name into the pool for a contest starting in 2021, where we draw for one Free Genetic Preservation every 6 months (value $1600)!  So if you have always wanted to ask a particular question about cloning any livestock species, 2021 will be a great time to do so.  

Today we will address the following questions: 

• “Can you Transfer Cloned Embryos from Two Different Animals into the Same Recipient?”
  In general, the answer to that question is “yes” for all livestock species, with some stipulations.
  1. In cattle, we generally will transfer one embryo per recipient however, we can transfer two embryos if the client requests it.  These can be from the same cell line or two different cell lines however, they must be of the same sex to avoid the birth of a bull-heifer twin pair, in which case the female will likely be a freemartin (non-breeding female).  This is not suggested in larger birth weight breeds but can be done for low birth weight breeds or individuals.
  2. In litter bearing species like pigs and even small ruminants, we can transfer embryos from one cell line only, or we can mix cell lines.  Having piglets that are of both sexes from two different cell lines is not a problem for recipient sows, nor is it a problem to have two lambs or kids that are not the same sex.  

•  “Why would you use two different cell lines?”
  In some cases, you may just want to have a few animals from each of two cell lines.  Or if a particular cell line has not produced well in the past, we may combine two cell lines in an effort to get better results.
  

• “Will you get 50% from one cell line and 50% from the other?”
  I don’t think it is realistic to expect a 50:50 ratio from each of two cell lines.  More likely, you will have one cell line that will dominate.  Or you may get cloned offspring from one cell line only.  
  

• “How can you tell the difference between the piglets of one cell line versus the other if they are the same color and sex?”  
  The easiest way is to make sure you can tell the difference in the piglets is by using two cell lines of different sexes or breeds. For example, one male cell line and one female cell line.  Another example would be using one Hampshire cell line and one Yorkshire cell line.  If you do use two cell lines that will be of the same sex and color, we will DNA confirm the cloned offspring to determine which cell line they originated from.  

We look forward to hearing from you and answering the questions you have had about Genetic Preservation and Cloning in 2021.  And remember, it could be worth a $1600 Genetic Preservation on your favorite rock star genetic donor.  And I will venture to guess that’s the easiest $1600 you will make this year!  We look forward to hearing from you.

Diane Broek
Advanced Technology Sales and Production Manager

For more information on cloning, visit our livestock cloning page or past cloning blog posts.