When John Gurdon developed a procedure for nuclear transfer, what was he able to accomplish?

John Gurdon is known for his pioneering work in nuclear transfer, which is a technique that involves transferring the nucleus of a somatic cell into an enucleated egg cell. This groundbreaking procedure led to the successful cloning of a frog, specifically the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis).

In his experiments, Gurdon demonstrated that the nucleus from an adult differentiated cell could direct the development of an entire organism, essentially reversing the process of cell differentiation. His work with frog cloning provided critical insights into developmental biology and the mechanisms of cellular reprogramming, laying the foundational principles for future cloning and stem cell research.

This accomplishment not only marked a significant scientific milestone but also led to further exploration in the field of cloning in other species, including mammals, although Gurdon himself did not clone mammals. His research has had lasting impacts on biotechnology and our understanding of cellular development.