On Human Embryo Cloning for Spare Parts
From:
http://library.northernlight.com/cgi-bin/pdserv?cbrecid=FB19981129580000016&cb=0&dx=1006#doc
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Scottish Scientist May Be First to Clone Human Embryo
LONDON (Nov. 29) XINHUA - A Scottish scientist is on the brink of making medical history by becoming the first person to clone a human embryo, The Sunday Times reported Sunday.
Dr Austin Smith, director of Edinburgh University's center of genome research, is expected to pioneer a revolutionary form of cloning by giving every baby an embryonic "twin," from whom spare body parts can be grown and life-threatening diseases treated.
He is in consultation with the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh which created Dolly, the first cloned mammal, and said that within the next 12 years it would be routine for every baby to have an embryonic clone.
"All it takes now is financial investment," he said. "This therapy will be the medicine of the next century."
A working party from Britain's Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority and the human genetics advisory commission will report to the government within the next few weeks.
It is understood that it will recommend approval of new "therapeutic" cloning but come down firmly against reproductive cloning by replicating a living human being.
If the group's report is accepted by ministers, it would mean that Britain could be the first to clone a human embryo, The Sunday Times said. Enditem
29/11/98 23:50 GMT
Copyright © 1998, Xinhua News Agency, all rights reserved.
dan@southeast.net
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