 "History Today: When Dolly, the first mammal, was cloned in Edinburgh")
The world was amazed on February 22, 1997, when it came to know about Dolly, the first mammal to be cloned from an adult body cell. The discovery defied the scientific dogma of its time making it a life-altering discovery the field of biology. This discovery opened new doors for scientists teaching them that other animals and even humans can be cloned.
If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.
On this day in 2011, the second worst natural disaster hit New Zealand claiming 185 lives while injuring several others. In 2003, Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar bowled the fastest-recorded delivery in the history of the game at the 2003 World Cup match in Cape Town.
Here is all that happened on this day across the world.
Dolly the sheep is cloned
It was on this day in 1997 that a sheep was conceived in Edinburg but what was so special about it? Well, it was not conceived by the traditional egg and sperm way. On February 22, 1997, the world came to know about one of the most complex biological discoveries.
This sheep, Dolly, was conceived in a lab using DNA from the mammary tissue of an adult sheep. The discovery was led by Ian Wilmut at the Roslin Institute in Scotland. Wilmut revealed this stunning secret to his friend and colleague, Alan Trounson. Trounson, a stem cell biologist, was shocked, immediately grasping the profound implications of this breakthrough.
The cloning proved that specialised adult cells could be reprogrammed to develop into a new organism, challenging long-held beliefs in biology and opening new possibilities for genetic research and medicine. Her name, inspired by Dolly Parton, was a nod to the mammary cell used in the cloning process.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsDolly lived for six years and gave birth to six lambs, demonstrating that cloned animals could reproduce naturally. Her cloning sparked global debates on the ethics of cloning and genetic engineering while advancing research into stem cells and regenerative medicine.
Christchurch earthquake claims 185 lives
This day is remembered as a dark day in New Zealand’s history as the day a 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook the city of Christchurch and neighbouring regions in 2011. As many as 185 people lost their lives to the natural calamity, making this the second-worst natural disaster in the history of the country.
At 12:51 pm the earthquake hit Christchurch, when most of the people were out on the streets of the city to have lunch. With its epicentre near Lyttelton, the tremors were so strong that they led to the collapse of the Canterbury Television and Pyne Gould Corporation buildings. The collapse of these buildings alone killed more than 130 people.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), positioned in the South Island for a training exercise, were able to provide immediate and multifaceted assistance following the earthquake. This included medical rescue, city security, hospital and rest home evacuations along with the initiation of urban search and rescue operations.
One of the issues that the authorities had to deal with immediately was the sludge that emerged from the earthquake. Water-saturated layers of sand and silt beneath the surface squirted upwards through cracks leading to thick layers of silt covering properties and streets along with water and sewage from broken pipes flooding areas.
The government declared a state of national emergency just the day after the quake with authorities quickly cordoning off Christchurch’s central business district. The cordon remained in place in some areas until June 2013.
Shoaib Akhtar sets record for fastest ball delivery
It was on this day in 2003 when Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar set the world record for the fastest ball delivery. During a match against England at the 2003 ODI Cricket World Cup in Cape Town, the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ (as he was fondly called) achieved a historic feat by bowling a delivery clocked at 161.3 kph, the fastest in cricket history.
Akhtar’s bowling, renowned for its fearsome speed, left many batsmen struggling. However, English batsman Nick Knight provided a moment of unexpected levity with his memorable response to one of Akhtar’s blistering deliveries, reported The Times of India.
The ball hurtled towards Knight, but he responded with an unexpected coolness, casually shrugging off the delivery and even adding a touch of mockery to his dismissal of its speed.
The memory of this encounter isn’t just Akhtar’s record-setting speed, but also Knight’s remarkable display of composure that demonstrates how a batsman’s confidence and coolness can defy the challenge of fearsome fast bowling.
This Day, That Year
In 2014, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was impeached following widespread protests
During the Winter Olympics, the US ice hockey team defeated the Soviet team, on the backdrop of the Cold War, in 1980.
In 1959, NASCAR held the first Daytona 500.
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