Local researchers have discovered why cloned animals have short lives.

A team led by Gyeongsang National University professor Kim Jin-hoi on Monday said it has identified how and why animals produced through somatic cell cloning die early.

The team found the main cause was trouble in blood circulation from heart malfunctions.

In a joint study with a dozen local researchers, it analyzed the causes of death of 28 cloned pigs that died early.

A certain protein was also discovered to cause problems in heart and blood circulation, resulting in organ disorder.

The study appeared in the May edition of Proteomics.