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The future is here, and its nose is cold and wet. Say hello to the first litter of puppies born from in vitro fertilization. Representing decades of experimentation and research, they arrived by scheduled caesarian section, fanning hopes for novel conservation strategies for endangered canids, and presenting new possibilities for defeating hereditary diseases in domestic dog breeds. [Read the full story on the IVF puppies]
Dog days
Frolicking puppies: the first litter born through in vitro fertilization. (Credit: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine)
Of the seven healthy puppies born to the host dog via in vitro fertilization, five puppies had two beagle parents, and two had a cocker spaniel father and a beagle mother. (Credit: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine)
Going to the dogs
The success of in vitro fertilization in domestic dogs also kindles hope for preserving the genetic diversity of endangered canids. Also, THAT FACE. (Credit: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine)
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Embryo in ultrasound
Ultrasound image of a normally developing IVF puppy embryo, imaged on Day 29 (following transfer into the host dog.) Of the 19 embryos that scientists implanted, seven live offspring were born. (Credit: Cornell University / PLOS ONE)
So. Many. Puppies.
Seven healthy puppies — three females and four males — born by planned Caesarian section to the host dog on Day 65. (Credit: Cornell University / PLOS ONE)
Welcome to the world
Normally developing beagle puppy at three weeks of age. All pups exhibited normal behaviors and growth through weaning and the first three months of life. (Credit: Cornell University / PLOS ONE)
Scientists. And Puppies.
The study's co-author Nucharin Songsasen (Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute) and first author Jennifer Nagashima (College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University). (Credit: Cornell University / Jeffrey MacMillan)
Mindy Weisberger is a science journalist and author of "Rise of the Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control" (Hopkins Press). She formerly edited for Scholastic and was a channel editor and senior writer for Live Science. She has reported on general science, covering climate change, paleontology, biology and space. Mindy studied film at Columbia University; prior to LS, she produced, wrote and directed media for the American Museum of Natural History in NYC. Her videos about dinosaurs, astrophysics, biodiversity and evolution appear in museums and science centers worldwide, earning awards such as the CINE Golden Eagle and the Communicator Award of Excellence. Her writing has also appeared in Scientific American, The Washington Post, How It Works Magazine and CNN.
