This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7094215.stm

The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Breakthrough in primate cloning Breakthrough in primate cloning
(10 minutes later)
Experts have for the first time created cloned embryos from adult monkeys - a technical breakthrough that could bring efficient human cloning a step closer.Experts have for the first time created cloned embryos from adult monkeys - a technical breakthrough that could bring efficient human cloning a step closer.
A team in the US created dozens of cloned embryos from a 10-year-old macaque monkey, Nature journal reports.A team in the US created dozens of cloned embryos from a 10-year-old macaque monkey, Nature journal reports.
This could make it easier to clone human embryos for use in research.This could make it easier to clone human embryos for use in research.
And the approach might one day lead to treatments for diseases like diabetes and spinal cord injury, without fear of rejection by the patient's body.And the approach might one day lead to treatments for diseases like diabetes and spinal cord injury, without fear of rejection by the patient's body.
The American group was able to extract stem cells from some of the cloned monkey embryos and was able to persuade these to develop into mature heart and nerve cells in the laboratory.The American group was able to extract stem cells from some of the cloned monkey embryos and was able to persuade these to develop into mature heart and nerve cells in the laboratory.
Scientists have welcomed news of the advance. Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell scientist at the National Institute for Medical Research in Mill Hill, near London, said: "Although this work has not been published yet, it is potentially significant.Scientists have welcomed news of the advance. Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell scientist at the National Institute for Medical Research in Mill Hill, near London, said: "Although this work has not been published yet, it is potentially significant.
"There has been a worry that primates may prove to be difficult in terms of cloning.""There has been a worry that primates may prove to be difficult in terms of cloning."
Medical promiseMedical promise
This would have been a huge setback for researchers working to develop new therapies for disease based on embryonic stem cells. The hope is that one day, scientists could create transplant tissue that is genetically matched to the patient. This would have been a huge setback for researchers working to develop new therapies for disease based on embryonic stem cells.
Because stem cells can form all types of tissue, the approach might one day help treat conditions like diabetes and spinal cord injury without fear of rejection by the patient's body. In cloning to obtain stem cells, DNA from an adult animal is inserted into an unfertilized egg. The egg is grown into an early embryo, from which stem cells are extracted.
STEM CELLS Stem cells are master cells, obtained from early-stage human embryos, with potential to develop into any of the body's tissue typesThere are different types, but scientists believe the most useful stem cells come from the tissue of embryosThe copy pre-embryo created for therapeutic cloning is destroyed in the process These stem cells, and the tissue that develops from them, will be a genetic match to the source of the DNA.
Because stem cells can form all types of tissue, scientists hope they might one day create transplant tissue that is genetically matched to patients with conditions like diabetes and spinal cord injury without the fear of rejection by the body.
Human cloning has been dogged by controversies over faked research and technical difficulties.Human cloning has been dogged by controversies over faked research and technical difficulties.
In 2004, a South Korean team announced that it had created the first cloned human embryos. But the study was later retracted when it emerged the lead author Dr Hwang Woo-suk had fabricated his research.In 2004, a South Korean team announced that it had created the first cloned human embryos. But the study was later retracted when it emerged the lead author Dr Hwang Woo-suk had fabricated his research.
The only other published example of a human embryonic clone was created at the University of Newcastle. But the clones survived for only a few days and did not produce any stem cells. The only other published example of a human embryonic clone was created at Newcastle University. But the clones survived for only a few days and did not produce any stem cells.
Human cloning clues
The technique used to generate the cloned macaque embryos is called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). This is the same basic procedure used to create Dolly the sheep and other cloned mammals.The technique used to generate the cloned macaque embryos is called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). This is the same basic procedure used to create Dolly the sheep and other cloned mammals.
But lead author of the latest study, Dr Shoukhrat Mitalipov, pioneered a novel way of handling during the cloning process. This technique does not use ultraviolet light or dyes, which appear to damage primate eggs.But lead author of the latest study, Dr Shoukhrat Mitalipov, pioneered a novel way of handling during the cloning process. This technique does not use ultraviolet light or dyes, which appear to damage primate eggs.
In a statement, Prof Alison Murdoch and Dr Mary Herbert, North-East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) said the work "provides the first convincing evidence that nuclear reprogramming is feasible in primates."
They added: "This is a very exciting development which takes us several steps closer to the production of patient-specific stem cells to treat life-limiting conditions such as Parkinson's, Motor Neurone disease, Huntington's Disease and Cystic Fibrosis.
"By providing proof of principle in a primate model, Dr Mitalipov and his colleagues have made an important step towards realising the therapeutic potential of nuclear transfer in humans."
The scientists behind the latest work reportedly tried to implant about 100 cloned embryos into the wombs of around 50 surrogate female macaques. However, their efforts did not result in the birth of any offspring.The scientists behind the latest work reportedly tried to implant about 100 cloned embryos into the wombs of around 50 surrogate female macaques. However, their efforts did not result in the birth of any offspring.
But one author of the study said this could be down to bad luck. For example, Dolly the sheep - the first clone of an adult mammal - was only created after 277 attempts.But one author of the study said this could be down to bad luck. For example, Dolly the sheep - the first clone of an adult mammal - was only created after 277 attempts.