1. A defect classificationinspection system comprising:
a defect extracting unit for picking up an image of an inspection object and comparing the image with a reference image having no defect, thereby extracting an image of a defect part;
a characteristics extracting unit for extracting and digitizing the characteristics quantity of the image of the defect part extracted by the defect extracting unit;
a database preparing unit including defect classifying means for grouping defects having similar characteristics on the basis of the characteristics information digitized by the characteristics extracting unit, classification code providing means for providing a classification code to the defects grouped by the defect classifying means, storage means for saving the characteristics information of the defects grouped by the defect classifying means together with the classification code provided by the classification code providing means as a database, and selectingdesignating means for selecting and designating groups having mixed defects for which a database of a next hierarchical level is to be prepared, from the respective defect groups having the grouped defects and having the classification code provided thereto, the database preparing unit regrouping defects having similar characteristics by the defect classifying means on the basis of the characteristics information digitized by the characteristics extracting means with respect to the defects belonging to the mixed defect groups selected and designated by the selectingdesignating means, and preparing a database in which the defects of the inspection object are hierarchically classified; and
a classification executing unit for hierarchically classifying the defects of the inspection object with reference to the database provided by the database preparing unit on the basis of the digitized characteristics information extracted by the characteristics extracting unit from the image of the defect part of the inspection object extracted by the defect extracting unit, wherein the classification executing unit includes a classification code determining unit for determining whether additional processing is needed based on the classification code.
2. The defect classificationinspection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the defect extracting unit extracts the image of the defect part on the basis of a change of a repetitive pattern of the image obtained by picking up the image of the inspection object.
3. The defect classificationinspection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the classification executing unit compares the digitized characteristics information extracted by the characteristics extracting unit with the database provided by the database preparing unit and provides a classification code, thereby hierarchically classifying the defect of the inspection object.
4. The defect classificationinspection system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a displayinput unit wherein the classification code is confirmed by an operator.
5. The defect classificationinspection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the database in which the defects of the inspection object are hierarchically classified further comprises one or more databases for each hierarchical level.
6. The defect classificationinspection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the defects are grouped in a predetermined number of groups.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of reconstituting an animal embryo, the process comprising transferring a diploid nucleus into an oocyte which is arrested in the metaphase of the second meiotic division without concomitantly activating the oocyte, keeping the nucleus exposed to the cytoplasm of the recipient for a period of time sufficient for the embryo to become capable of giving rise to a live birth and subsequently activating the reconstituted embryo while maintaining correct ploidy.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the animal is an ungulate species.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the animal is a cow or bull, pig, goat, sheep, camel or water buffalo.
4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the donor nucleus is genetically modified.
5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the diploid nucleus is donated by a quiescent cell.
6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the recipient oocyte is enucleate.
7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein nuclear transfer is achieved by cell fusion.
8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the animal is a cow or bull and wherein the donor nucleus is kept exposed to the recipient cytoplasm for a period of from 6 to 20 hours prior to activation.
9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein correct ploidy is maintained during activation by microtubule inhibition.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein microtubule inhibition is achieved by the application of nocodazole.
11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein correct ploidy is maintained during activation by microtubule stabilisation.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein microtubule stabilisation is achieved by the application of taxol.
13. A method of preparing an animal, the method comprising:
(a) reconstituting an animal embryo as claimed in any preceding claim;
(b) causing an animal to develop to term from the embryo; and
(c) optionally, breeding from the animal so formed.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the animal embryo is further manipulated prior to full development of the embryo.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein more than one animal is derived from the embryo.
16. A reconstituted animal embryo which is capable of giving rise to a live birth and is prepared by a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12.
17. An animal prepared by a method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15.
18. An animal developed from an embryo as claimed in claim 16.