BMJ  2004;328:415-416 (21 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7437.415

Editorial

Human cells from cloned embryos in research and therapy

Current methods of cloning are repeatable but remain inefficient

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The recent report of the derivation of stem cells from a cloned human embryo takes a small, but significant, step towards revolutionary new opportunities in biology and medicine.1 By developing these techniques it will become possible to study human genetic diseases in entirely new ways, before in the longer term such cells may be used in the treatment of human disease. However, much remains to be learned about the techniques that are required before these opportunities can be realised. Furthermore, as with all new technical developments, experience will be needed to learn how such cells should best be used.

The procedure that was used in the Korean experiment was essentially the same as that used to produce Dolly, the cloned sheep.2 During a series of trials a total of 30 of the 242 cloned embryos developed normally for six days to reach the blastocyst stage before attempts were made to . . . [Full text of this article]

Ian Wilmut, head of department

Department of Gene Expression and Development, Roslin Institute, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS (Ian.Wilmut@bbsrc.ac.uk)


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