A small San Diego biotech firm claims to be the first to document the successful cloning of human embryos. KPBS reporter Andrew Phelps has details.
Researchers at Stemagen say they mixed donated egg cells with adult skin cells. In a few cases, that produced new embryos. Theoretically, those embryos could be inserted into a womb and become a baby. The researchers say this technique could "revolutionize our understanding of human diseases."
Embryonic stem cells are important for regenerative medicine, because they can morph into any kind of human cell. For ex38le, stem cells have the potential to cure diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
Stemagen says science must overcome technical and ethical hurdles before human cloning becomes a real tool. The company says it destroyed the cells before they could be considered human life.
The company's research is published today in the journal Stem Cells .
Andrew Phelps, KPBS News.
