World's first test tube puppies to lead conservation of endangered species

Scientists have successfully used in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) for the birth of the world's first "test tube" puppies after decades of failed attempts. The IVF success could potentially help experts conserve endangered breeds and fight human and animal diseases.

Seven beagle and cross-bred beagle-spaniel puppies were reportedly born healthy to a surrogate mother. Researchers from the Cornell University in the US used the same techniques to implant frozen embryos in a female dog to those used in human fertility clinics.

Experts have long struggled to freeze embryos in the past, but the Cornell team said they have perfected the techniques and the process, which led to the first ever successful IVF carried out in a dog.

"We have seven normal happy healthy puppies," said Dr Alex Travis, lead researcher from Cornell's college of veterinary medicine. "Since the mid-1970s, people have been trying to do this in a dog and have been unsuccessful. Now we can use this technique to conserve the genetics of endangered species."

Researchers believe IVF is a powerful tool that could help save endangered species of dogs. IVF opens the possibility for experts to identify and work against certain genes that cause diseases to animals, Travis said.

In addition, the study has been described as a "major step forward" in medicine, with dogs and humans being diagnosed with many similar diseases. The report, published in the journal PLOS ONE, indicates that understanding how diseases work in dogs would be the first step to eradicate them.

"Importantly, it is becoming apparent that dogs and humans share many common biology, diseases and syndromes,” the BBC quoted Professor David Argyle, head of the school of veterinary medicine at the University of Edinburgh, who was not part of the study. “It is likely that these new techniques could have significant benefit for the study of human diseases as well as canine diseases."

The puppies were born in the summer in the US. However, researchers have kept their existence from the public until formally releasing the findings on Wednesday. The puppies have reportedly been named Beaker, Buddy, Cannon, Green, Ivy, Nelly and Red.

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