title: The ups and downs of somatic cell nucleus transfer (SCNT) in humans.
abstract: Achieving successful somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in the human and subhuman primate relative to other mammals has been questioned for a variety of technical and logistical issues. Here we summarize the gradual evolution of SCNT technology from the perspective of oocyte quality and cell cycle status that has recently led to the demonstration of feasibility in the human for deriving chromosomally normal stem cells lines. With these advances in hand, prospects for therapeutic cloning must be entertained in a conscientious, rigorous, and timely fashion before broad spectrum clinical applications are undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Science, 104 00, Prague 10, Czech Republic, fulka@vuzv.cz.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fulka
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langerova
authors.forename: Pasqualino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loi
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ptak
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albertini
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fulka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047108:Embryonic Development; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques / Q000266:history*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D012756:Sheep / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics