Squeaky clone end for Madiba

For years tyre giant Goodyear has been trying to stem losses at a plant in northern France, but has failed to persuade unions to agree to its plans. Now it wants to close the factory, and the battle has moved to the courts. How much longer can the struggle continue? That's the same question we should be asking about Nelson Mandela. The condition of the former South African leader has deteriorated in the last few days, presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj has said. The announcement came as President Jacob Zuma cancelled a trip to Mozambique following consultations with Mr Mandela's doctors. While the life of a great person is ending, a new life is beginning over in Japan - in mouse form. That's right, scientists in Japan have cloned a mouse from a single drop of blood. Circulating blood cells collected from the tail of a donor mouse were used to produce the clone, a team at the Riken BioResource Center reports in the journal Biology of Reproduction. The female mouse lived a normal lifespan and could give birth to young, say the researchers. Scientists at a linked institute recently created nearly 600 exact genetic copies of one mouse. With numbers like that, there is the possibility that this could be used to restore endangered species to their former glory, so think before you oppose this important scientific development.