Here is the relevant part for those who cannot read the original
article .
CELLS taken from artificially created human embryos could be used to
help cure Aids, diabetes and Parkinson's disease, the leader of the
team which created Dolly, the world's first cloned sheep, claimed
yesterday. Professor Ian Wilmut, from the Roslin Institute, near
Edinburgh, predicted the technology could be in use within five years.
His suggestion immediately re-opened the ethical debate on the use of
embryonic tissue, and set the scientists on a collision course with
the Roman Catholic Church, which believes such interference with
nature is wrong.
The potential development was outlined at the New Frontiers in Science
Exhibition in London by Professor Wilmut.
The scientific team believes cells taken from a week-old embryo could
provide an invaluable resource by replacing permanently damaged cells
in patients. The team believes the method is ethical because the
artificially developed embryos used would be a maximum of seven days
old, with no nervous system, awareness, or movement.
A disease-free cell would be taken from the patient and electronically
fused with a donated egg to create an embryo, which would then be
cultivated. Embryonic stem cells would consequently be recovered and
grown in cultures.
Specific cell types could be derived and then reintroduced to the
patient where they would regenerate and possibly cure the person
completely.
Dr Wilmut said he accepted some people might find the idea
"unacceptable" but called for a full public debate because there was
no effective treatment for certain diseases.
The team says it prefers to use the term "potential person" rather
than the word "embryo" in the idea, called Cell-Based Therapies.
In the longer term, Professor Wilmut said the method would be
developed for the direct culture of disease-free cells taken from the
patient and grown, avoiding the need for an egg and the controversial
creation of an embryo.
peace
Alastair ( [log in to unmask] )
