Cloning: UK scientists report the first successful cloning of a human embryo
UK scientists have announced they have succeeded in cloning a human embryo for the first time. Researchers at Newcastle University removed eggs from 11 women, extracted the genetic material and replaced it with DNA from embryonic stem cells.
Of the eggs, three clones successfully grew for three days and one survived five days. The longevity of the embryos appeared to be dependent on how quickly the egg was collected and manipulated. The clone that lived for five days was collected and altered within 15 minutes.
The British breakthrough came as scientists in South Korea revealed that they have tailored stem cells to match individuals for the very first time. Using a similar technique to the British researchers, the team at Seoul National University took genetic material from patients currently suffering diseases and inserted the DNA into donated eggs. The scientists found that the stem cells created in the procedure were a perfect match for the patients.
The discoveries have raised hopes that the implementation of stem cells in the fight against conditions as varied as diabetes and Parkinson's disease, may be a step closer. The Korean research is regarded as particularly important because tailoring stem cells to patients eliminates the risk of rejection by the patient's immune system since they are genetically identical.
Stem cells are 'master cells' found in developing embryos that have the potential to turn into any of the tissues found in the human body, be that skin, muscle, blood, organs or bone. The science is regarded as controversial because during the extraction of the stem cells, the developing embryo is destroyed.
