You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Scientists in America claim in the scientific journal "Science" to have successfully reversed "the ageing process" by making the telomeres attached to chromosomes longer in cloned calves than in the donor animals. 

The length of DNA telomeres attached to the end of chromosomes is an important factor in the ageing process. With each cell division the telomeres get shorter, until eventually the cell can no longer divide and it dies. Using techniques developed by the US-based company Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) it is claimed that cloned cells can be given longer telomeres than are present in the donor cells, and so the cells are effectively younger and have a longer lifespan.

This is an important breakthrough which promises great potential for the future use of cloned cells in the treatment of disease, so-called therapeutic cloning. Cells cloned from a cow's ear have already been successfully transplanted into the same cows heart without causing rejection, and large numbers of rejuvenated, cloned cells have been grown for transplantation to replace damaged tissues. This technique should lead to rapid advancement in the ability to grow replacement tissues and organs for the treatment of a variety of serious conditions including diabetes, renal failure and hepatic failure. 

Updated January 2016