The present invention pertains to methods for cloning animals. In particular, the invention includes methods of cloning an animal by combining a genome from an activated donor cell with an activated enucleated oocyte to thereby obtain a nuclear transfer embryo, and impregnating an animal with the nuclear transfer embryo in conditions suitable for gestation of a cloned animal. The invention further relates to methods of chemically enucleating an oocyte having a meiotic spindle apparatus by exposing the oocyte with a compound that destabilizes the meiotic spindle apparatus.