China clones gene-edited monkeys for sleep disorder research

It was the first time multiple clones had been made from a gene-edited monkey

A lab technician holds a gene-edited macaque with circadian rhythm disorders, which was used to make five cloned monkeys, in a lab at the Institute of Neuroscience of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai, China January 18, 2019. Picture taken January 18, 2019.

Chinese scientists have made clones of a gene-edited macaque to aid research of circadian rhythm disorders that are linked to sleep problems, depression and Alzheimer's disease, the official Xinhua news agency said on January 24.

It was the first time multiple clones had been made from a gene-edited monkey for biomedical research, the agency said. The clones were born at the Institute of Neuroscience at the China Academy of Sciences in Shanghai.

A gene-edited monkey most prone to the disorder was selected as a donor, and its fibroblasts were used to make five cloned monkeys, Xinhua said, citing

National Science Review , a Chinese journal.

The official

China Daily said the clones would pave the way for more research into such problems in humans, which have become a major mental health concern.

The cloned monkeys already show signs of “negative behaviour”, including sleep disorders, as well as elevated levels of anxiety and “schizophrenia-like behaviours”, the paper added.

Xinhua said the programme, supervised by the institute's ethics panel, was in line with international ethical standards for animal research.