Ian Wilmut's groundbreaking research has left an indelible mark on the annals of science and the human imagination. Most iconic was his creation of Dolly the sheep, in the 1990s, which set new benchmarks around the potential of cloning technology and forever altering our understanding of genetics, reproduction, and the boundaries of medical research and life itself. His work catalysed a new era of possibilities in agriculture, medicine, and genetics. It unlocked doors to potential cures for genetic diseases, revolutionised livestock breeding, and opened vistas of hope for regenerative medicine.

Beyond his laboratory-based research, his work fostered immense debate regarding the implications of cloning for humans, and the broader ethics and philosophy of science. The impact of this founded new, and continually revised, regulatory requirements and stringent guidelines that continue to govern our current research practices.