For the first time in the US, a representative of an endangered species, the black-footed ferret, has been successfully cloned. The animal was named Elizabeth Ann.

Black-footed ferrets were once thought to be completely extinct, but in 1981, a Wyoming rancher discovered a small population on his land that allowed conservationists to begin captive breeding programs.

As a result, all modern individuals descend from only seven ferrets. Because of this, they are susceptible to disease and genetic abnormalities, and are also limited in their ability to adapt to conditions in the wild.

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