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Dolly scientist abandons cloning Dolly scientist abandons cloning
(about 2 hours later)
The scientist who led the team that controversially created Dolly the sheep is abandoning the cloning of human embryos in stem cell research.The scientist who led the team that controversially created Dolly the sheep is abandoning the cloning of human embryos in stem cell research.
Professor Ian Wilmut, of Edinburgh University, believes a rival method developed in Japan holds the key to curing serious medical conditions.Professor Ian Wilmut, of Edinburgh University, believes a rival method developed in Japan holds the key to curing serious medical conditions.
The move has been welcomed by pro-life ethics groups.
The new method creates stem cells from fragments of skin and could remove the need to use human embryos.The new method creates stem cells from fragments of skin and could remove the need to use human embryos.
Prof Wilmut developed a cloning technique which involved creating stem cells - which have the potential to be grown into any cell in the human body - from human embryos. Pro-life groups opposed to the use of embryonic cells have welcomed the move.
But Prof Wilmut said: "We've not made this decision because it's ethically better.
"To me it's always been ethically acceptable to think that if you could use cells from a human embryo to develop a treatment for a disease like motor neurone disease, for which there is no treatment at present, then that is an acceptable thing to do."
Building blocksBuilding blocks
The professor developed a cloning technique which involved creating stem cells - which have the potential to be grown into any cell in the human body - from human embryos.
At last scientists are starting to see reason. It is a gift to us all. We are at last going to see some common sense coming into the debate Josephine Quintavalle, Comment on Reproductive Ethics
Embryonic or stem cells are widely regarded as the most flexible cells in the body and are seen as the body's building blocks.Embryonic or stem cells are widely regarded as the most flexible cells in the body and are seen as the body's building blocks.
Their use in research into cures for conditions such as Parkinson's disease sparked fierce criticism from religious and pro-life groups.
But the professor has now embraced a technique developed by Prof Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, Japan, that involves genetically modifying adult cells to make them almost as flexible as stem cells. The research has been conducted on mice.But the professor has now embraced a technique developed by Prof Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, Japan, that involves genetically modifying adult cells to make them almost as flexible as stem cells. The research has been conducted on mice.
The work is due to be published in a scientific journal on Tuesday. Prof Wilmut said his own research team held a meeting at which it was agreed the Japanese method had more potential than the use of embryonic cells.The work is due to be published in a scientific journal on Tuesday. Prof Wilmut said his own research team held a meeting at which it was agreed the Japanese method had more potential than the use of embryonic cells.
At last scientists are starting to see reason. It is a gift to us all. We are at last going to see some common sense coming into the debate Josephine Quintavalle, spokeswoman of Comment on Reproductive Ethics
He said: "The work which was described from Japan of using a technique to change cells from a patient directly into stem cells without making an embryo has got so much more potential.He said: "The work which was described from Japan of using a technique to change cells from a patient directly into stem cells without making an embryo has got so much more potential.
"Even though it's only been described for the mouse, when we were considering which option to pursue, whether to clone or whether to copy the work in Japan, we decided to copy the work in Japan.""Even though it's only been described for the mouse, when we were considering which option to pursue, whether to clone or whether to copy the work in Japan, we decided to copy the work in Japan."
More acceptableMore acceptable
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Prof Wilmut said: "Before too long we will be able to use the Yamanaka approach to achieve the same, without making embryos. In the long term, direct reprogramming will be more productive.
"I decided a few weeks ago not to pursue nuclear transfer [the method used to create Dolly the sheep]," and he admitted the new method "was easier to accept socially".
Dolly the sheep was unveiled to the world in 1997Dolly the sheep was unveiled to the world in 1997
The eventual aim is to grow replacement tissue as body parts become worn out.The eventual aim is to grow replacement tissue as body parts become worn out.
There is some way to go before Prof Yamanaka's method can be used to grow tissue for transplantation as the resulting cells are unstable and potentially cancerous.There is some way to go before Prof Yamanaka's method can be used to grow tissue for transplantation as the resulting cells are unstable and potentially cancerous.
But Professor Wilmut believes that within five years the new technique could provide a better and ethically more acceptable alternative to cloning embryos for medical research. But Prof Wilmut believes that within five years the new technique could provide a better and ethically more acceptable alternative to cloning embryos for medical research.
Welcomed
Josephine Quintavalle, spokeswoman for Comment on Reproductive Ethics which is against the use of human embryos, welcomed the move.Josephine Quintavalle, spokeswoman for Comment on Reproductive Ethics which is against the use of human embryos, welcomed the move.
She said: "At last scientists are starting to see reason. It is a gift to us all. We are at last going to see some common sense coming into the debate."She said: "At last scientists are starting to see reason. It is a gift to us all. We are at last going to see some common sense coming into the debate."
In 1997 Prof Wilmut's team made headlines around the world when they unveiled Dolly, the first animal to be created from an adult cell.In 1997 Prof Wilmut's team made headlines around the world when they unveiled Dolly, the first animal to be created from an adult cell.