<Sorry, Raoul. Sorry, I thought she had died. Apparently, she's aging rapidly and was recently quarantined due to the foot and mouth decease outbrake in the UK.
[DOLLY AND two other cloned sheep have shorter telomeres — the tiny strands of DNA at the end of chromosomes that scientists believe may hold the secrets to youth and aging.
Telomeres shorten each time a cell divides and are progressively eroded as an animal ages. As the telomeres shorten the chromosomes can become unstable and prone to damage.
Researchers from Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute and PPL Therapeutics said Dolly had telomeres that were about 20 percent shorter than those of other sheep of a similar age.
As a result, Dolly could age faster and be more at risk for cancer, which occurs when cells fail to self-destruct and begin uncontrolled growth. Sheep have a life expectancy of 13 years.
“We don’t see any signs of any problem in Dolly and the other animals but perhaps it is too early to note such a problem. We just don’t know,” PPL’s Alan Colman said.]
http://www.msnbc.com/news/273594.asp
<shrug> Dolly may just be catching up with her older 'mother/donor'.
In closing, I think the Italians are rushing things.
Marcia
Current Events » in reply to Re: Dolly
Re: No, Raoul.