Although it definitely won't get as much press as Dolly the sheep received, one of the key figures in embryonic cloning (and creator of Dolly) appears to be abandoning the embryonic method of cloning. This is good news, because it means that perhaps the use of embryos for stem cell research will decrease in popularity...if other scientists follow his lead. It also points to the ridiculousness of the whole idea from the very beginning...even if it worked...and was morally unproblematic, where would all the eggs come from to create the embryos for the cloning?
Here's an article about Ian Wilmut's change in research:
Dolly Creator Prof Ian Wilmut Shuns Cloning
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There are some awesome stories out there from other countries where doctors have successfully treated critically ill patients with their own stem cells. Here are a couple of my favorites:
Cardiologists at Düsseldorf University Hospital said they have been the first in the world to use stem cell therapy to save a patient who suffered from a severe heart attack.
A 23-year-old man, who was paralysed from below the waist, is now able to walk after the first successful stem cell therapy in India for spinal cord injuries was conducted at a hospital here.
This is an excellent resource for following stem cell research news and the political side of things: Do No Harm.
Good articles...thanks for the links. I like the Do No Harm site...I haven't spent alot of time there, but I'm familiar with several of their founders. Here's another site if you're interested: www.cbhd.org
I've been one-upped. That's a much schnazzier (and less late 1990s) than my site suggestion. :D
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