Cloning Controversy
Institute of Genetics and Newcastle Fertility Centre
Newcastle is at the centre of controversy after scientists from the Institute of Genetics and Newcastle Fertility Centre were given permission to perform therapeutic cloning using human embryos. This licence, issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, is the first of its type to be granted in Europe.
Therapeutic cloning is to be carried out for medical reasons and the scientists in Newcastle will be investigating new treatments for conditions including diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
This technique involves removing the nucleus from a human egg cell and replacing it with the nucleus from a body cell from the patient, for example, a skin cell. The egg is then artificially stimulated which causes the egg to divide and act in a similar way to an egg fertilised by sperm. The eggs are left over from IVF treatment and are only used with the express permission of the donors.
The embryos will be cultured until they start producing stem cells which the scientists will collect. The embryos will then be destroyed. Scientists believe the stem cells could be used to treat and potentially cure diseases.
It will be many years before patients will benefit from the research as the scientists in Newcastle belive it will be 5 years before they are ready to begin clinical trials. Reproductive cloning is still illegal.
Submitted by: Sarah McLeod, 12 August 2004
