Aggregated News
Clone Is One Step in Extended Process
Rosie Mestel
Los Angeles Times
February 13, 2004
The report of a successfully cloned human embryo was a milestone in the field of stem cell research, but the medical promise of such endeavors still lies years in the future, scientists said Thursday.
Cloning human embryos to a stage in which stem cells can be extracted would theoretically permit scientists to create genetically matched tissues that could be inserted into patients' bodies to treat illnesses such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.
Because the tissues are perfect genetic matches to the patient, they are unlikely to be rejected by the body's immune system.
But before stem cell therapy can be used in medicine, many hurdles must be overcome. The achievement of South Korean scientists in cloning a human embryo and extracting stem cells is one of many necessary breakthroughs.
It will probably be years before the treatments become a reality. Scientists must learn how to create specific body cells with sufficient purity, longevity and stability.
"It's like herding cats, trying to get these...