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CHICK OR TREAT

Scientists have found a way to save rare hen breeds by creating mutant chickens that can lay their eggs

Plan is to boost numbers of dying species such as Old English Pheasant Fowl, the Rumpless Game, Scots Dumpy and Dorking

EXPERTS have found a way to save rare hen breeds by creating mutant chickens that can lay their eggs.

They aim to boost numbers of dying species such as Old English Pheasant Fowl, the Rumpless Game, Scots Dumpy and Dorking.

The surrogate chicks in Edinburgh, where experts have found a way to save rare hen breeds by creating mutant chickens that can lay their eggs
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The surrogate chicks in Edinburgh, where experts have found a way to save rare hen breeds by creating mutant chickens that can lay their eggs

Scientists from the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute – the same institution that gave the world Dolly the sheep – knocked out fertility genes to create an egg containing a sterile chick.

But when stem cells from rare breeds were implanted into that egg it created GM surrogates, which can go on to produce eggs and chicks from the threatened species.

The team are also freezing early stem cells for dozens of chicken types to create a “frozen aviary” – the bird equivalent of a seed bank.

The 'Dorking' could be assured of a long-term future
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The 'Dorking' could be assured of a long-term futureCredit: Alamy
Along with the Old English Pheasant Fowl
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Along with the Old English Pheasant FowlCredit: Alamy

So far, the team have collected more than 500 samples from 25 different breeds. Held in a freezer at minus 150C, the cells will remain viable for decades.

Although the team is only working on chickens, the technique could be used to conserve other endangered birds.

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