Los Angeles Research Team Creates Human Clones

                Scientists at the Research Institute for Stem Cell Research at CHA Health systems in Los Angeles announced that they have successfully created a human embryo using the cloning process.  According to an article in the National Post, “Human cloning has been used to create stem cells from adults for the first time, in a breakthrough which could lead to tissue and organs being regrown.”  

                “The technique works by removing the nucleus from an unfertilized egg and replacing it with the nucleus of a skin cell.  An electric shock causes the cells to divide until they form a ‘blastocyst,’ a small ball of a few hundred cells,” the Post article continues.  The research took place using skins cells from two men, aged 35 and 75 and again raises the debate on the ethics of such  experiments.  While envisioned to help individuals with diseases, the process would necessitate the destruction of the living embryo.   And, the cloning process involves the extraction of eggs with complications for the women from whom they are extracted.   Finally, the cost is prohibitive which would make it available only to the wealthy at this time.

Read National Post article here:  http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/04/18/breakthrough-in-cloning-adult-stem-cells-may-mean-body-parts-can-be-grown-for-elderly/