The world's first 'test tube' puppies have been born, and it's a major breakthrough
Researchers implanted 19 lab-created embryos into a female beagle surrogate last spring.
Seven pups were born in total — five beagles and two beagle-cocker spaniel mixes.
These puppies represent a major breakthrough.
Scientists have been trying and failing to execute a successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) in a dog since the 1970s, Cornell associate professor Alexander Travis told the college's website.
Source: Cornell
The researchers say previous IVF attempts have failed because a dog's reproductive system is unlike those of other animals.
Source: Cornell
These pups are not just adorable...
... they're a key step forward in the fight against hereditary disease and the preservation of at-risk breeds.
"It opens up the possibility that we could identify certain genes that cause disease and fix those," Travis said of the breakthrough.
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