First endangered black-footed ferrets, <i>Mustela nigripes</i> , cloned for genetic rescue

Abstract An endangered black-footed ferret female that died in 1988 with no living descendants in the current population was successfully cloned from cryopreserved cells using cross-species somatic cell nuclear transfer, producing three healthy kits. Incorporating progeny from these clones would provide an 8th founder to the breeding program and increase genetic variation to the species’ limited gene-pool. This marks the first time a native U.S. endangered species has been cloned.