A team around Wu Shenglong in Taicang, Jiangsu province, has achieved somatic cell cloning of pigs, resulting in five pigs native to China. Somatic cell cloning preserves 100 % of the parent’s genetic material and thus reduces the threat of African swine fever on pig breeding. China reported its first case of the disease in August 2018 in Liaoning province, and later heavy outbreaks in other provinces. The team has collected ear tissue samples from six types of pigs native to China and cryopreserved 1,217 tubes of somatic cells since last year.

Xinhua news release, April 2, 2021