Guest guest Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 wow, a true cowboy then........... >heartwerk <jo.heartwork >Nov 6, 2006 11:55 PM > > Plan to create human-cow embryos > >UK scientists have applied for permission to create embryos by fusing >human DNA with cow eggs. > >Researchers from Newcastle University and Kings College, London, have >asked the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for a three- >year licence. > >The hybrid human-bovine embryos would be used for stem cell research >and would not be allowed to develop for more than a few days. > >But critics say it is unethical and potentially dangerous. > >Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris - a member of the Commons Science >and Technology Select Committee - said: " If human benefit can be >derived by perfecting therapeutic cloning techniques or from research >into subsequently-derived stem cells, then it would actually be >immoral to prevent it just because of a 'yuck' factor. " > >Stem cell research is one of the most promising areas of medical >science. > > You may begin to undermine the whole distinction between humans >animals and humans > >Calum MacKellar >Stem cells are the body's master cells and five-day-old embryos are >packed with them - each with the potential to turn into any tissue in >the body. > >It is this ability which scientists want to harness to treat diseases >such as Parkinson's Disease, strokes and Alzheimer's Disease. > >To do that, they need to have access to thousands of embryos for >research. > >Short supply > >The problem is that human eggs for research are in short supply and >to obtain them women have to undergo surgery. > >That is why scientists want to use cows' eggs as a substitute. > >They would insert human DNA into a cow's egg which has had its >genetic material removed, and then create an embryo by the same >technique that produced Dolly the Sheep. > >The resulting embryo would be 99.9% human; the only bovine element >would be DNA outside the nucleus of the cell. > >It would, though, technically be a chimera - part-human, part-animal. > >The aim would be to extract stem cells from the embryo when it is six >days old, before destroying it. > > If human benefit can be derived by perfecting therapeutic cloning >techniques or from research into subsequently-derived stem cells, >then it would actually be immoral to prevent it just because of >a 'yuck' factor > >Dr Evan Harris > >The quality and the viability of stem cells would then be checked to >see if the technique had worked. > >The scientists also plan to examine the way the cells are >reprogrammed after fusion to see if there are useful processes they >could replicate in the laboratory. > >Lead researcher Dr Lyle Armstrong said: " If we can learn from the egg >cell how to make embryonic stem cells without having to use an animal >egg at all then some day we may be able to cure diseases such as >Parkinson's disease, or better still some of the age-related diseases >which are creating such a burden on society. " > >Dr Stephen Minger, from King's College London, said: " The current >state of the technology is such that literally hundreds of human >ooctyes (eggs) from young women will be required to generate a single >human embryonic stem cell line. > > " Therefore we consider it more appropriate to use non-human oocytes >from livestock as a surrogate. > > " We feel that the development of disease-specific human embryonic >stem cell lines from individuals suffering from genetic forms of >neurodegenerative disorders will stimulate both basic research and >the development of new medicines to treat these horrific brain >diseases. " > >'Undermining humanity' > >Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, head of developmental genetics, >National Institute for Medical Research, said: " This is a very >rational step: to learn what you can using animal eggs, which are >readily obtainable, before moving on to valuable human eggs when or >if this becomes necessary. " > > > > > > >To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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