A microscopic photo released by Seoul National University shows eight of the cloned embryos.
Posted on 02/12/2004 6:56:35 AM PST by NYer
A microscopic photo released by Seoul National University shows eight of the cloned embryos.
SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) --South Korean researchers reported Thursday they have created human embryos through cloning and extracted embryonic stem cells, the universal cells that scientists expect will result in breakthroughs in medical research.
Hanyang University professor Hwang Yoon-Young said, "Our research team has successfully culled stem cells from a cloned human embryo through mature growing process in a test tube."
The findings by a team of researchers led by Dr. Hwang Woo Suk of Seoul National University were presented to South Korean scientists and will be published in the U.S. journal Science.
The paper describes a detailed process of how to create human embryos by cloning, saying the scientists used the eggs donated by Korean women.
The technique, scientists said, was not designed to make babies but to further understanding of the causes and treatment of a multitude of diseases.
Advances in stem-cell technology have been hailed as holding potential cures for many crippling illnesses, such as diabetes, spinal cord injuries and Parkinson's disease.
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, stem cells can be manipulated by scientists to develop into many other human cells.
While they can be found in adults, those found in days-old embryos are far more prevalent and more easily manipulated into specialized cells, which then could be used to create cures or even grow replacement organs, the NIH reports.
Stem cell researcher Dr. Rudolf Jaenisch of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, told The Associated Press the experiment proved the cloning technique was possible using human cells.
"That's an important point to prove," he told the AP.
Still, "it's not of practical use at this point," Jaenisch told the AP, stressing that years of additional research were required.
Opponents have said using embryos, even ones just several minutes old, is destroying a human life.
The new report already has sparked a renewal of the debate over whether all forms of human cloning should be banned.
"The result of our research proves it is possible scientifically for human cloning, and we are likely to revive the controversy over human cloning," Hwang said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Vatican document - Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation.
Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list
Who ever doubted that it was possible? Its possible to beat a person to death with a baseball bat. It doesn't mean we have to prove it.
Maybe not, but they did. If they don't think it's a baby, what do they think it is? A duck? After all, they are scientists. They should know.
Wish I had a nickel for every time I've heard that same complaint.
Sigh...
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