A somatic cell cloned rhesus monkey obtained by trophoblast replacement [WGBS II]
Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has been used to clone cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), but the cloning of other non-human primate species remains to be achieved. On the other hand, our histological examination indicated severe calcification of the placenta of SCNT fetuses. Additionally, we found that some of the maternal-biased imprinting genes were aberrantly lost in the cloned embryos by multi-omics analysis. We thus developed a trophoblast replacement (TR) method, providing an ICSI-derived placenta for the SCNT fetus, to support the full-term development of the cloned embryos after implantation. By combining this TR method with treatment with epigenetic modification factors, we obtained a healthy somatic cell cloned rhesus monkey. Thus, TR represents a useful approach for rhesus monkey cloning. Overall design: Whole genome bisulfite sequencing of the trophoblast cells of monkey ICSI and SCNT embryos