Home

The Korea Herald

Latest news

Most Popular

  1. 1

    Now is no time to add pressure on businesses: top executives

    Now is no time to add pressure on businesses: top executives
  2. 2

    CJ CheilJedang to spur overseas growth with new Hungary, US plants

    CJ CheilJedang to spur overseas growth with new Hungary, US plants
  3. 3

    Blackpink's solo journeys: Complementary paths, not competition

    Blackpink's solo journeys: Complementary paths, not competition
  4. 4

    Nationwide rail disruptions feared as union plans strike from Dec. 5

    Nationwide rail disruptions feared as union plans strike from Dec. 5
  5. 5

    Seoul to host winter festival from Dec. 13

    Seoul to host winter festival from Dec. 13
  1. 6

    N. Korea, Russia court softer image: From animal diplomacy to tourism

    N. Korea, Russia court softer image: From animal diplomacy to tourism
  2. 7

    Smugglers caught disguising 230 tons of Chinese black beans as diesel exhaust fluid

    Smugglers caught disguising 230 tons of Chinese black beans as diesel exhaust fluid
  3. 8

    [Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Jennie, Lisa invited to Coachella as solo acts

    [Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Jennie, Lisa invited to Coachella as solo acts
  4. 9

    Main opposition pushes to ease, not postpone, tax on crypto gains

    Main opposition pushes to ease, not postpone, tax on crypto gains
  5. 10

    Actor Song Joong-ki welcomes second child in Rome

    Actor Song Joong-ki welcomes second child in Rome
소아쌤

Scientists restore indigenous dog breed

By Choi Ji-won

Published : Dec. 3, 2019 - 17:00

    • Link copied

A cloned dog of a native breed close to extinction, the Sapsaree, gave birth to puppies last year, and one of them became pregnant recently.


Seven puppies born from the cloned short-haired badugi Sapsaree (Chungnam National University Professor Kim Min-kyu) Seven puppies born from the cloned short-haired badugi Sapsaree (Chungnam National University Professor Kim Min-kyu)

According to professor Kim Min-kyu of Chungnam National University -- whose team conducted the genetic experiment -- on Tuesday, the cloned Sapsaree gave birth to seven puppies through artificial insemination last December. Two of the seven pups were short-haired.

The cloned dog had its genes reproduced from a male short-haired badugi (meaning “spotted” in Korean) Sapsaree in 2017. The original dog was the first naturally born short-haired badugi since the Japanese colonial era, during which the whole breed was killed in large numbers for their fur by the Japanese military.


Professor Kim Min-kyu stands with a short-haired badugi Sapsaree puppy in the center, with the cloned Sapsaree father on the left and long-haired puppy on the right. (Chungnam National University Professor Kim Min-kyu) Professor Kim Min-kyu stands with a short-haired badugi Sapsaree puppy in the center, with the cloned Sapsaree father on the left and long-haired puppy on the right. (Chungnam National University Professor Kim Min-kyu)

Short-haired Sapsarees are rare among the characteristically long-haired canine breed. Short hairs are born naturally at 1 percent possibility, and those with spotted fur are even rarer. Only around 600 Sapsarees exist in South Korea, with around 50 short-haired of the kind among them.

“The seven baby dogs of the cloned Sapsaree are now near 1 year in age, and they are all healthy and able to reproduce,” Kim said. “This marks the successful restoration of a canine breed (the short-haired badugi Sapsaree) that could have disappeared from their homeland.”



By Choi Ji-won (jwc@heraldcorp.com)

More from Headlines