Clone scientist Keith Campbell who helped create Dolly the sheep dies

THE scientist credited as the driving force behind one of Scotland’s greatest scietific breakthroughs – cloning Dolly the sheep - has died.

• Prof Keith Campbell, one of the scientists who created Dolly the sheep, has died

• Dolly was first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell

Professor Keith Campbell, who led the groundbreaking scientific research into the creation of Dolly, below, the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell, at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute in 1996, died on Friday aged 58.

Sir Ian Wilmut, who led the team and became known as the sheep’s creator, was reported to have said Prof Campbell deserved “66 per cent of the credit” for his contribution.

The potential benefits of research into new methods of growing and modifying cells may eventually create fresh solutions for degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, diabetes, heart disease and hepatitis.

Prof Campbell started working at the institute in 1991 and left in 1999 when he became a Professor of Animal Development at the University of Nottingham. A spokesman for the university confirmed his death yesterday.

Sir Ian said: “I am very saddened and upset to have heard of the death of my former colleague Keith Campbell.

“I want to send sympathy and best wishes to his family in this difficult time.”

Since Dolly, research into animal cloning has developed rapidly. Cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses, dogs and cats have all been cloned, as well as laboratory animals such as mice and rats.

Sir Ian was awarded a knighthood in the 2008 New Year’s Honours List for his services to science. He is now the chair of the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.