BBC News Online: Sci/Tech

Company 'cloned human cells'

The biotech company involved, Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) from Massachusetts, said it recognised the sensitivities involved and wanted a debate before pursing the work further.

ACT said it had no intention of trying to create a human clone. Instead, it wants to try to grow organs and tissues in the lab for use in transplantation therapy.

"We have absolutely no interest or intent ever of cloning a human being," Michael West, President and CEO of ACT, said. "That's not the point at all. The point is to address transplantation."

In a technique similar to that used to produce Dolly the Sheep, the hybrid cell is made by removing the nucleus of a cow egg and inserting a human cell's nucleus. Only a small amount of the cow's genetic material remains.

The hybrids are said to have developed into a "master" state known as stem cells, which are capable of growing into any of the bodies many different types of tissues.

Transplant therapy

If this process can be controlled, ACT believe specific tissues could then be cultured for use in transplant therapy.

The announcement comes just a week after two other US groups announced that they had isolated and maintained in the lab embryonic stem cells taken from embryos and aborted foetal tissue.

However, the use of the nuclear transfer cloning technique on human cells will generate even greater controversy.

Several scientists have initially declared scepticism about what has been achieved because the research has yet to be subjected to peer review.

Dr John Gearhart of Johns Hopkins University, who was involved in one of the other studies, said: "It's not that I don't believe this biologically. I just think they could have given a little bit more assurance as to what was done here."

In January, two Advanced Cell Technology researchers announced they had used the nuclear transfer technique to create cow "master" cells and eventually cloned a cow.

Relevant Stories

Cell success has huge potential (05 Nov 98 | Sci/Tech)
Anti-abortion groups attack cell technology (06 Nov 98 | Sci/Tech)
'Revolution in a dish' (06 Nov 98 | Sci/Tech)
Cloned calves could signal major drug development (20 Jan 98 | Sci/Tech)
Scientist ready 'to clone humans' (07 Jan 98 | Sci/Tech)

Internet Links

The Council for Responsible Genetics
Roslin Institute Online (Dolly)
International Embryo Transfer Society
Society, Religion and Technology Project of the Church of Scotland

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

In this section

World's smallest transistor
Scientists join forces to study Arctic ozone
Mathematicians crack big puzzle
The growing threat of internet fraud (From Business)
Who watches the pilots?
Cold 'cure' comes one step closer (From Health)