Licensed to clone
13 August 2004
For the first time British scientists have been given the go-ahead to clone human embryos. Researchers will use the embryos to harvest stem cells - hailed by some as the answer to our healthcare prayers. But not everyone is celebrating. Antenna reports...
In a controversial decision the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority has granted the first licence to create human embryonic stem cells by a technique known as therapeutic cloning.
How does it work?
Scientists remove the nucleus from an unfertilised human egg and replace it with the nucleus from a human body cell such as a skin cell. The egg is then artificially stimulated and creates stem cells.
Scientists remove the nucleus from an unfertilised human egg and replace it with the nucleus from a human body cell such as a skin cell. The egg is then artificially stimulated and creates stem cells.
Stem cells can grow into any kind of cell. Researchers hope they will eventually be able to transfer the cells into patients to replace worn out or diseased ones and treat conditions such as diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Will this create cloned humans?
No. Researchers will destroy the cloned embryos after a maximum of 14 days. It is illegal in Britain to try to create copies of human beings.
No. Researchers will destroy the cloned embryos after a maximum of 14 days. It is illegal in Britain to try to create copies of human beings.
Feelings run high over this controversial cloning. The eggs used are left over from in vitro fertilisation treatment and would otherwise be destroyed.
However critics claim that stem cells could be taken from adult bone marrow instead, avoiding the ethical minefield of using cells from human embryos.
Adult bone marrow
'After careful consideration of all the scientific, ethical, legal and medical aspects of the project, the HFEA Licence Committee agreed to grant an initial one-year licence to the Newcastle Centre for Life. This is an important area of research and a responsible use of technology.
'The HFEA is there to make sure any research involving human embryos is scrutinised and properly regulated.'
Suzi Leather, Chair of HFEA
Suzi Leather, Chair of HFEA
Suzi Leather, Chair of HFEA