Inspired by a new technique for producing stem cells from nothing more controversial than a flake of skin, the scientist responsible for Dolly has quit cloning.
In 1997, Ian Wilmut unveiled to an awestruck world Dolly, the first full-grown creature formed from a fertilized egg in which the original nucleus was removed and replaced with the nucleus of a non-reproductive cell. It’s the same process recently used to make stem cell-producing embryonic monkeys, reigniting hope — and fear — that the same could be done for humans.
On one side of the argument is the incredible potential of personal embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines capable of rejuvenating a failing body. On the other are moral objections to a process that destroys embryos and relies on risky hormone treatments to coax spare eggs from women. Less controversial, but still significant, are the scientific challenges of harvesting healthy cells with Wilmut’s cut-and-paste method.
Now Wilmut himself has abandoned cloning, announcing this weekend that he’s enthralled with a technique pioneered by Kyoto University’s Shinya Yamanaka, who has genetically reprogrammed mouse skin cells to behave like ESCs. Yamanaka’s stem cells appear to be even more versatile than those taken from cloned embryos.
Cloning critics lauded Wilmut’s decision, though he says it had nothing to do with ethical issues and everything to do with science. The BBC reports that Wilmut was swayed by Yamanaka’s latest research, scheduled to be published tomorrow. More then….
Source: wired.com
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