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.
Hadjantonakis
Anna-Katerina
AK
Department of Genetics and Development, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Papaioannou
Virginia E
VE
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