Beijing: Chinese scientists have claimed
that they have made progress in artificial propagation of two
humped Bactrian camels and were successful in getting the
oosperms, a fertilised ovum out of the animal.
Zhang Li, a researcher with the livestock improvement
station in north China`s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,
said, they have succeeded in making the female Bactrian camel
to produce three to five ova, instead of only one in normal
circumstances, during the period a female Bactrian camel is in
heat.
In addition, they have been able to get oosperms out
of the female camel, paving the way for embryo
transplantations, Xinhua reported on Monday.
Zhang Wenbin, director of Alxa Camel Research
Institution, said Bactrian camels can adjust its body
temperature by three degrees Celsius in a day and can cope
with extreme drought.
The gene that determines such performance is
considered valuable in bioengineering. Alxa League, located in
the western part of Inner Mongolia, boasts 80,000 of China`s
280,000 Bactrian camels.
PTI
