Forwarded from Sci.bio.ecology:
January 25th
An AP story today reported two scientists at the Charleston
Oceanographic Institute have successfully genetically engineered the
first mammal hybrid. The Scientists, Dr. Lisa Velasquez and Dr.
Michael Poczkinsky, used bits of genetic material from both a
bottle-nosed dolphin and the egg of a walrus, fertilized in vitro, and
implanted into an adult walrus for gestation. The healthy offspring,
termed a "Dolrus", seems healthy and is now three months old.
Phenotypically, it has the features of a somewhat larger dolphin, only
it is able to carry itself out of the water and locomote on land. The
Dolrus appears to have the breathing apparatus of the dolphin, but
preliminary study seems to show tusks will develop much like the
walrus.
Damien Broderick