Ralph (rat)

{{Short description|Cloned rat}}

{{Infobox animal

| name = Ralph

| image =

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| caption =

| birth_name =

| othername =

| species = Rattus

| breed =

| gender = Male

| birth_date = 2002 {{cite journal|url=http://www.nature.com/news/2003/030926/full/news030922-16.html#B1|title=First cloned rats born|last=Pilcher|first=Helen R.|date=26 September 2003|website=Nature.com|doi=10.1038/news030922-16|accessdate=30 August 2012|quote=Ten-month-old rodent Ralph|archive-date=9 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009123756/http://www.nature.com/news/2003/030926/full/news030922-16.html#B1|url-status=live|doi-access=free}}

| birth_place = Jouy-en-Josas, France

| nationality = French

}}

Ralph was the first cloned rat. He was created by a team of researchers at the National Institute for Agricultural Research in France, working with a biotech company, genOway. To give birth to Ralph, 129 embryos were implanted into two females, and one became pregnant and gave birth to three rats, with Ralph being the first to be born.{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} In pictures: Cloning hall of fame, Ralph the rat |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/sci_nat_cloning_hall_of_fame/html/7.stm |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=news.bbc.co.uk |archive-date=2018-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131170659/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/sci_nat_cloning_hall_of_fame/html/7.stm |url-status=live }} Rats are particularly difficult to clone, as early development in rodents is different from that in other mammals. Rat eggs "activate" as soon as they leave the ovaries, making it difficult to introduce new genetic material. A chemical is needed to stabilize the embryo before cloning is possible.

Ralph has been cloned for medical purposes requiring genetically identical animals including testing in impact of genetics and the environment in the development of many diseases, as well as to take away and modify genes,{{cite web|url=http://www.brighthub.com/science/genetics/articles/12949.aspx|title=Ralph: The World's First Cloned Rat|publisher=Bright Hub|first=Paul|last=Arnold|date=11 September 2009|accessdate=11 July 2017|archive-date=4 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404130745/http://www.brighthub.com/science/genetics/articles/12949.aspx|url-status=live}} as well as to solve a problem with rat physiology.{{cite web|url=http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_11735.asp|title=Ralph, the fertile cloned rat unveiled|publisher=BioNews|date=29 September 2003|accessdate=11 July 2017|archive-date=28 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328193934/http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_11735.asp|url-status=live}} Cloned from an adult cell, Ralph was cloned by researchers from China and France.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3136776.stm|title=Rat called Ralph is latest clone|publisher=BBC|date=25 September 2003|accessdate=11 July 2017|archive-date=29 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729053556/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3136776.stm|url-status=live}}