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Department of Animal Science and Nutrition,
Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram-4225, Bangladesh
Stem cell and cloning technologies have emerged as transformative tools for livestock improvement, enabling rapid genetic advancement, conservation of elite or endangered breeds, and development of animals with desirable production and health traits. Stem cells, including embryonic, adult, and induced pluripotent types, offer unparalleled potential due to their self-renewal, differentiation capacity, and versatility for genetic modification. Cloning technologies, particularly somatic cell nuclear transfer and embryo splitting, allow replication of superior animals and integration with gene editing tools for precise trait enhancement. Recent progress includes the establishment of embryonic stem cell lines in cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, generation of induced pluripotent stem cells, and the development of germline stem cell applications. Cloning efficiency and reproducibility have improved, enabling multiplication of elite animals and conservation of indigenous breeds. Applications span disease resistance, enhanced milk, meat, and reproductive traits, transgenic animal production, and biopharming for pharmaceuticals. Integration with modern genomic technologies, including CRISPR genome editing, genomic selection, transcriptomics, proteomics, and epigenetic regulation, has enabled precision breeding and accelerated genetic gains. Despite these advances, challenges such as low cloning efficiency, epigenetic abnormalities, high costs, technical complexity, and limited field level application remain. Ethical, welfare, biosafety, and regulatory considerations also require careful attention to ensure responsible deployment. Future prospects focus on stem cell derived gametes, artificial embryos, gene edited livestock, climate resilient animals, and personalized breeding programs. Collectively, these technologies provide a robust platform for accelerating sustainable livestock production, improving animal health, and addressing global food security, highlighting their central role in the next generation of animal biotechnology.
Keywords: Stem cells, cloning, livestock improvement, gene editing, regenerative biotechnology, transgenic animals, CRISPR
Citation:
Refrences:
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