The stem cells are obtained by cloning human - BBC Russian

During the study, cloned embryos were used to obtain stem cells

Use knowledge of human cloning to create embryos was “an important milestone” for medicine, U.S. researchers reported.

Cloned embryos were used to obtain stem cells which can then be used to create heart muscle, bone, brain tissue, and any other type of cells in the human body.

Results of the study were published in the journal Cell. In its course, used the techniques used to create Dolly the sheep in the UK.

However, researchers believe that stem cells can be obtained from other sources – a cheap, simple and less ethically controversial.

Opponents of the method believe that it is unethical to experiment on human embryos, and calling for a ban on it.

Stem cells are one of the main hopes of medicine. The ability to create new tissue can help, for example, as a treatment for heart attack or spinal cord injury.

Exit – in cloning?

already conducted research using stem cells derived from embryos, to restore vision.

But such cells are foreign to the patient, so the body just rejects them. Cloning solves this problem.

At the heart of the process is the technology of somatic cell nuclear transfer, a well-known since then as Dolly the sheep was the first cloned mammal in 1996.

I took adult skin cells and derived genetic information was placed in the donor egg from which had been removed own DNA. Then, using electrical discharges stimulated the development of the egg to embryo.

However, the researchers could not replicate like a human egg that begins to divide, but did not develop beyond the stage in 6-12 cells.

South Korean scientist Hwang Woo Sok claimed that he managed to create stem cells from cloned human embryos, but it turned out that he had rigged the facts.

germinal vesicle

A team of scientists from Oregon was able to bring to the stage of development of the embryo germinal vesicle

In the current study, a team of scientists Health and Science University Oregon State was able to bring to the stage of embryonic development of the germinal vesicle (approximately 150 cells). That’s enough to get stem cells.

Lead researcher Dr Shukhrat Mitalip said: “A careful analysis of stem cells obtained by this technique, showed their ability to transform into different types of cells, including nerve cells, liver cells, and the cells of the heart.”

“Although there is still much work to create a safe and effective process of stem cells, we are confident that we have taken a significant step in the creation of cells that can be used in regenerative medicine,” – he added.

“Looks plausible”

professor of regenerative medicine at University College London, Chris Mason said that this research looks plausible. “They’ve done just about the same as that of the Wright brothers (for aircraft). They have adopted the best of what has been done previously by other research groups, and brought it all together,” – said Meissen.

Research on stem cells derived from embryos, raising the question about the ethics of such research papers. There is also the problem of lack of donor eggs.

new technology also provides use of cells of the skin, but transforms them with proteins induced pluripotent stem cells.

Critics of the new method

believe that all embryos, whether artificial or natural, can develop into a complete human being, so to spend with them is immoral experiments. They believe that it is necessary to obtain stem cells from adult tissues.

But supporters of the new method claim that embryos are obtained with it, will never be able to develop into a complete human being.