Stem cells recovered from cloned human embryos
Scientists finally get stem cells from cloned human embryos, possible step toward treatments
This undated image made available by the Oregon Health & Science University in May 2013 shows developing cloned human embryos. Scientists have finally recovered stem cells from cloned human embryos, a longstanding goal that could lead to new treatments for such illnesses as Parkinson's disease and diabetes. In the Wednesday, May 15, 2013 edition of the journal Cell, scientists at the Oregon Health & Science University report harvesting stem cells from six embryos. Shoukhrat Mitalipov, who led the research, said the success came not from a single technical innovation, but from revising a series of steps in the process. (AP Photo/Oregon Health & Science University)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Scientists have recovered stem cells from cloned human embryos, a longstanding goal that could lead to new treatments for such illnesses as Parkinson's disease and diabetes.
Experts called the work significant, but noted that a different, simpler technique now under development may prove more useful.
Stem cells can turn into any cell of the body. Scientists are interested in using them to create transplant tissue for treating disease.
But transplants run the risk of rejection. So researchers had proposed creating tissue that used the patient's own DNA through cloning.
But in about a decade of trying, scientists had not been able to produce those stem cells from cloned human embryos.
The success is reported Wednesday in the journal Cell by a team based at Oregon Health & Science University.
