Stem cells created without embryonic death
Scientists remove cells without destroying embryo
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Thursday, 24, Aug 2006 10:57
American scientists have created a way to produce human embryonic stem cell lines that does not harm the donor embryo.
Scientists from Advanced Cell Technology in Massachusetts removed a single cell from an eight-cell stage embryo and then cultured it to create stable embryonic stem cell lines.
It is hoped that the new development could find a way round the current ban on federal funding for stem cell research in the US.
US president George Bush is opposed to the research as some existing methods destroy the embryo, leading to claims that it is unethical to sacrifice one life in order to save another.
Supporters of the research point to its potential to tackle degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's as it works towards understanding how to regenerate diseased or damaged cells, tissues and organs.
Professor Robert Lanza, who led the study, which is published in the journal Nature, said: "We have shown that we can not only generate stem cells without destroying the embryo but that that remaining embryo also has the potential to remain healthy."
He added that the goal of stem cell research should be to "generate a line that everyone would be comfortable with and eligible for federal funding".
According to tests carried out on the stem cell lines, they appear to be "absolutely normal in all respects" and behave exactly like conventional embryonic stem cell lines.
Advanced Cell Technology believe that the new technique could allow cell lines to be grown from cells routinely removed for genetic diagnosis that is carried out before embryo implantation.