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Chinese scientists have created "monstrous" monkey clones with genes specifically edited to carry diseases.

Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Neuroscience are aiming to make a diseased "monkey population" in order to carry out animal testing and study a range of human diseases.

They initially removed the BMAL1 gene - which is used to control human's circadian rhythm - in one macaque monkey.

They then used the donor monkey's cells to clone five new subjects using the same technique used to clone Dolly the Sheep, according to.

The move has proved highly controversial and animal welfare activists have slammed the move as barbaric.

The animals have been used to study sleep-related anxiety and depression, as well as schizophrenia.

Findings of the study have been published in the National Science Review.

"Disorder of circadian rhythm could lead to many human diseases, including sleep disorders, diabetic mellitus, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases," said Hung-Chun Chang, the study's lead author.

Co-author Qiang Sun said: "Our... monkeys thus could be used to study the diseases pathogenesis, as well as therapeutic treatments."

"We believe that this approach of cloning gene-edited monkeys could be used to generate a variety of monkey models for gene-based diseases."

But Dr Julia Baines, science policy ddvisor at PETA UK, said: "Genetically manipulating and then cloning animals is a monstrous practice that causes animals to suffer."

"There are huge ethical and animal welfare concerns about this research," RSPCA's Dr Penny Hawkins addedr.

"Primates are intelligent animals, not just research tools.

"The procedures used to alter the monkey’s genes cause suffering and distress, plus the effects are not always predictable.