Matilda Dies Mysteriously

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Australia's first cloned ewe dies mysteriously

Last Updated Fri, 07 Feb 2003 11:45:50

CANBERRA - Australia's first cloned sheep has died unexpectedly. Independent post-mortem tests failed to identify the cause of death, scientists said Friday.

 

 

INDEPTH: Human Cloning

 

The merino ewe named Matilda died last Saturday at the South Australian Research Institute near Adelaide. Rob Lewis, the institute's executive director, said staff didn't find the corpse until the following day.

Lewis said Matilda seemed "remarkably healthy" on the day she died. The cloned sheep gave birth to three lambs.

 

He added the body was cremated because it had decomposed.

 

Matilda was cloned in April 2000 using a similar technique to the one that produced the world's first cloned sheep, Dolly, in Scotland.

 

Since the birth of Matilda, the institute has produced other clones that are apparently in good health, Lewis said.

 

 

 

FROM JUNE 4, 2002: Australians raise self-shearing sheep

 

 

Australia is the world's largest exporter of raw wool. The industry is worth $2.3 billion US a year.

 

 

Written by CBC News Online staff