US researchers clone deer

American researchers have successfully cloned a white-tailed deer, according to reports.

The fawn, named Dewey, was born to a surrogate mother several months ago, but was only certified as a genetic clone of a donor through a recent DNA analysis, researchers at Texas A and M University said on Monday.

"Dewey is developing normally for a fawn his age and appears healthy," Mark Westhusin, associate professor with the university's college of veterinary medicine and lead investigator on the project, said in a statement.

Dewey is thought to be the first such deer clone and could ultimately be useful in conserving endangered deer species, according to researchers.