Abu Dhabi Labs Achieve First Implant of Live Cells From Camel Embryos

Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) laboratories have achieved a scientific breakthrough by successfully culturing cells from the kidney, liver and muscle tissue of embryos from a group of camels.

This achievement opens the door to a wide range of applications including the diagnosis of camel viral diseases, the isolation of camel viruses, the study of viral infection mechanisms, the development of improved diagnostic methods and the production of proteins and vaccines.

The ADAFSA are represented by the Collaborating Centre for Camel Diseases,a specialist centre for camel diseases accredited by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). The centre plays a significant role in promoting animal health and biosecurity locally in the UAE as well as globally, contributes significantly to enabling the diagnosis of animal diseases and promoting the development of national expertise in the field of camel diseases.

This achievement coincides with the International Year of Camelids, a theme launched by the United Nations in 2024, aiming to highlight the economic and cultural value of camels in over 90 countries where people suffer from extreme poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. Camels are an important source of milk, meat, and fibre for local communities, and a means of transporting goods and people.