The making of Dolly: science, politics and ethics

Building on a previous project, Edinburgh University has unlocked a wealth of material narrating the story surrounding the cloning of Dolly the Sheep in 1996. Edinburgh’s crucial role in the development of genetics is reflected in a rich array of previously inaccessible primary and printed sources based around the records of the Roslin Institute and the Institute of Animal Genetics. Many of these records also cover the ethical and political implications of the science used to create Dolly, including high-profile government reports, and press and medical responses. This project ensured these records are fully searchable in an electronic catalogue. Many of the files were damaged, in a fragile condition or in need of minor conservation work. The project did conservation work to ensure research access.

Find out more about the 'Towards Dolly' project in our short film.