Milestone in cloning In which year was Dolly, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, actually born?

Introduction / Context:
Dolly the sheep is a landmark in biotechnology, demonstrating that a differentiated adult nucleus could be reprogrammed to totipotency via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The public announcement and publication occurred after the birth.
• We need the actual birth year, not announcement year.

Concept / Approach:
Differentiate between the date of birth and the date of public disclosure. Dolly was born in mid-1996 and announced in 1997 after verification and peer review.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical records from the Roslin Institute note Dolly’s birth on 5 July 1996.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 1997: announcement year, not birth.
• 1995, 1998, 2000: do not match documented chronology.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing publication year with the actual event date, common in science history questions.

Final Answer:
1996