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Harvard Researchers Seek OK To Produce Cloned Human Embryos The Associated Press Last modified: October 13. 2004 1:53AM CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- A group of Harvard University researchers has asked a university ethical review board for permission to produce cloned human embryos for disease research, the leader of one of two teams of scientists said. If granted permission, the Harvard scientists could be the first in the nation to clone human cells for disease research, a controversial area of study that has become an issue in the presidential campaign. The research group asking for a green light to advance its work is one of two teams affiliated with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, set up earlier this year to fund stem cell research. The other group, based at Harvard-affiliated Children's Hospital, has not yet applied for permission. Embryonic stem cells are the master cells that form during the early days after conception and can turn into any tissue in the body. Scientists hope to harness them to grow replacement tissue to treat spinal cord injuries as well as diabetes and other diseases. "This is exactly the kind of work that we envisioned for the Harvard Stem Cell Institute," said Harvard biologist Douglas Melton, a senior researcher on one of the teams. "We want to find new ways to study and hopefully cure diseases." Melton and colleague Kevin Eggan have formally applied to Harvard's stem cell research committee for permission to do the work required, with the goal of researching juvenile diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Melton said. The university is considering all of the ethical and other issues of embryonic stem cell cloning, said Provost Dr. Steven E. Hyman, although he did not know when the university would reach a decision. "We are being extremely careful about this," he told The Boston Globe in an interview published Wednesday. The other group of scientists, led by Dr. George Q. Daley and Dr. Leonard Zon, is interested in studying diseases of the blood, including sickle cell anemia and immune deficiencies. President Bush, believing that harvesting stem cells from embryos kills the embryo and is thus taking a life, has signed an executive order limiting research to the existing lines. Democratic challenger John F. Kerry, supports for widespread stem cell research. So far, only a South Korean team has successfully performed nuclear transfer with human cells. British scientists also have been granted permission to conduct experiments. Last modified: October 13. 2004 1:53AM SOURCE: The Associated Press / Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL http://tinyurl.com/3jds3 * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn