British scientists clone first human embryo

A team of British scientists have announced that they have cloned the first human embryo in the UK.

The team at Newcastle University used eggs from eleven women to create the cloned embryos.

Three embryos were grown in the team’s laboratory and lived for three days, although one survived for five days.

The team, led by Dr Miodrag Stojkovic, said they created a cluster of human cells – known as a blastocyst – by inserting DNA into an unfertilised human egg and inducing it to multiply. This is the first step towards producing embryonic stem cells – master cells that can form any tissue in the body and which could be used to repair damaged parts of the human body, the researchers said.

The researchers believe that the technology could be used to produce treatments for a range of conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and spinal injuries.

The announcement comes as a team of South Korean scientists announced that they have produced 11 batches of stem cells containing the genes of patients.

Cloning is a controversial topic. Earlier this year, the United Nations voted in favour of a declaration urging all members’ states to outlaw cloning.

Pro-life charity, LIFE, has condemned the research. A LIFE spokesperson said: “What has happened should make all decent people ashamed of being British. Of course, we are regaled with all the usual promises about curing terrible diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. We all want to find cures for them. But this end does not justify the means. Human beings should not be manufactured to supply “spare parts” for others.”

(KMcA/SP)