Dolly the Sheep's Fleece and Laboratory Artifacts Join National Museums Scotland Collection with Monash Biotech - Dr William A. Ritchie

In a recent acquisition, National Museums Scotland has welcomed a significant addition to its collection – a fleece from none other than Dolly the Sheep. This prized fleece, showcased on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, finds its new home in the National Collections courtesy of a generous donation by Dr. William A. Ritchie. Dr. Ritchie, an embryologist integral to the Roslin Institute team, played a pivotal role in the creation of Dolly, the world’s inaugural mammal cloned from an adult cell.

Dolly’s fleece, originating from her second or third shearing, is not the sole contribution from Dr. Ritchie. Alongside this distinctive fleece, National Museums Scotland has received bespoke laboratory equipment, including meticulously crafted tools such as sharpened glass pipettes and an electrical fusion machine. These instruments, specifically tailored for the Roslin Institute’s groundbreaking cloning procedure, served as indispensable elements in the success of this pioneering scientific endeavor.

Sophie Goggins, the Senior Curator of Biomedical Science at National Museums Scotland, expressed her enthusiasm for this exceptional addition:

“We are delighted to add Dolly’s fleece and these remarkable instruments to the National Collections, thanks to the generosity of Dr William A. Ritchie. Dolly the Sheep represents one of the most important scientific advances of the 20^th century. Her fleece will now be available to researchers ensuring Dolly’s contribution to science continues for generations to come.”

In the words of Dr. William A. Ritchie:

"When Dolly the sheep was introduced to the world the scientific community went wild. The impossible had been achieved, and to make the story even more remarkable, some of the equipment used to produce this breakthrough was handmade in the Roslin institute's workshop just outside Edinburgh. It is only fitting that the equipment and the fleece are reunited with Dolly in Scotland’s National Collections to add to the story of this extraordinary scientific achievement. "

Following a meticulous five-day quarantine in the freezer of the National Museums Collection Centre, Dolly's fleece has seamlessly integrated into a curated collection that includes an array of items linked to this iconic sheep. This ensemble comprises not only her fleece but also extends to her skeleton, death mask, and her fellow cloned companions Morag and Megan.

In addition to the showcased materials, National Museums Scotland boasts an extensive and globally significant collection spanning various disciplines and subject areas. These collections, accessible for research, serve as a wellspring of knowledge, informing and igniting inspiration for the future of science.

Dolly the Sheep, a symbol of scientific achievement, made her debut in 1996 at the Roslin Institute just outside Edinburgh. Her birth captivated the public's imagination, reshaping scientific understanding in the realms of biology and medicine. Honoring the adult mammary gland cell that played a crucial role in her creation, Dolly was christened after the legendary country and western singer, Dolly Parton. Spending her entire life in Roslin, she gave birth to six healthy lambs before peacefully passing away in 2003 at the age of six.

Preserved on a meticulously crafted fiberglass frame, Dolly has held a prominent position at the National Museum of Scotland for nearly two decades. Despite the passage of time, she remains one of the museum's most popular and enduring exhibits, a testament to her lasting impact on scientific history and public fascination.

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