Can mammalian cloning combined with embryonic stem cell technologies be used to treat human diseases?
Cloning is commonly perceived as a means of generating genetically identical individuals, but it can also be used to obtain genetically matched embryo-derived stem cells, which could potentially be used in the treatment of patients. A recent report offers the first 'proof of principle' of such cloning for therapeutic purposes, referred to as nuclear transplantation to produce stem cells for autologous transplantation.
Department of Genetics and Development, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Anna-Katerina
AK
Hadjantonakis
Virginia E
VE
Papaioannou
D000818:Animals; D019976:Cloning, Organism / Q000379:methods*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells