SOAAM Biotechnology Research Foundation (Republic of Korea) fully mastered the technology of cloning modern animals: dogs, cows, pigs and other. Its overarching goal is to clone fossil animals, Hwang Woo Suk said, the foundation head, who participated in NEFU seminar.

"The successful cloning of a mammoth requires more well-preserved cells than those specimens found in the Malolyakhovsky mammoth. After arriving in Yakutsk, we did additional sampling, we are also planning new expeditions", the South Korean scientist said.

"I am confident of the success of our joint project with NEFU, and rector of the university is also convinced of this. There is a good technology, high potential of scientists and the necessary material. Cloning is the only way to restore extinct or vanished species. I am sure that in the future NEFU will be the center for revival of these animals", Hwang Woo Suk said.

According to Hyun Duk Kim, researcher at SOAAM, biotechnology scientists of the Foundation have successfully mastered the technology of somatic cell nuclear transfer from one animal to another. Donor cell is implanted in the surrogate animal egg. The Foundation’s first cloned dog Snappy was successfully born in 2008 using this method. "The Foundation has created more than 600 dogs using this technology. These are not just commercial orders when we recreate the families’ favorites, but also special cultivation of dogs for service in the police and security agencies", Hyun Duk Kim said. For example, cloned dogs work in Incheon airport security.

Professor Hwang Woo Suk believes that research and cloning mammoths will restore the picture of the past and explain how ancient people and animals coexisted, including climate and environment. "I think if there were cloned living mammoths in Yakutia, it would be another reason to be proud of your region", he added.

Let us remember that from 16 to 18 March North-Eastern Federal University hosted the international scientific seminar on modern methods of fossil animal research. The event was organized by NEFU Institute of Applied Ecology of the North.