Dolly will go on public display on 11 April

Dolly the sheep, who died two months ago, has been preserved and is set to take centre stage in the museum's Science Zone later this week.

She will go on to become a permanent feature at the museum later this year.

Dolly was born on 5 July 1996 but the decision was taken to euthanase her after a veterinary examination showed that she had a progressive lung disease.

The six-year-old had been created by the Roslin Institute research centre near Edinburgh.

Key role

It has now been announced that Dolly will go on display at the city's Royal Museum between 11 and 22 April.

She will play a key role in the Science Zone, a series of events and workshops running in parallel with the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

National Museums of Scotland (NMS) director Dr Gordon Rintoul said: "Dolly is a striking reminder of Scotland's record of scientific achievement and her contribution can now be recognised for many centuries to come.

She will go on reminding people of the fact that scientific progress was made in Edinburgh which is making people think very differently about this aspect of biology Dr Ian Wilmot

"She will prove an important focus for future new science displays in the Royal Museum."

Dolly was donated to the NMS by the Roslin Institute after she died in February this year.

Dr Ian Wilmot, who led the cloning team, said his pride at seeing her on display was tinged with sadness.

"It's not so many weeks since she was alive and in the barn but we're very proud that's she in here," he said.

"She will go on reminding people of the fact that scientific progress was made in Edinburgh which is making people think very differently about this aspect of biology.

"It's stimulating people to do research which one day will help to provide cells needed to treat very unpleasant human diseases."

Dolly will be joining the NMS collections alongside Morag, who has been on display in the Royal Museum since November 2000.

Dolly will be joining earlier clone Morag

The cloning of Morag from an embryo cell in a laboratory by the Roslin Institute later led to the cloning of Dolly from an adult cell.

Stockmen involved in Dolly's delivery were inspired by the fact that the cell used came from a mammary gland and named her after Dolly Parton, the country and western singer.

She will accompany a display marking the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA by James Watson and Frances Crick.

The Science Zone is organised by the NMS and the University of Edinburgh.

Dolly will be transferred to the Museum of Scottish Life in East Kilbride in July.