The invention features a purified embryonic or fetal caprine somatic cell. The somatic cell can be in a preparation of embryonic or fetal caprine somatic cells. In addition, the cell can be used to derive an embryonic or fetal caprine somatic cell line. The somatic cell can be a genetically engineered caprine somatic cell, e.g., a somatic cell which includes a transgenic sequence, or which a nucleic acid has been introduced.