Chinese scientists have made progress in stem cell research by successfully curing a partially paralysed mouse. The mouse was injected four months ago with nerve stem cells derived from a human embryo.
The mouse had lost the function of its back legs and the ability to urinate after a vertebrate nerve was cut. But three months after the injection of the stem cells, the mouse began to move its back legs and started to support itself. A month later, the mouse could move and urinate. The Chinese study brings hope that human patients suffering paralysis as a result of severed nerves will be able to be cured.
Meanwhile, China has announced official support for therapeutic cloning. The Chinese government said it would support research that was 'rational' and 'closely monitored'. It has urged that legislation approving therapeutic cloning should be rapidly passed so that 'cloning technology can be developed healthily and used safely', making the announcement at the same time as it declared itself against human reproductive cloning.
Further support for therapeutic cloning came from a Swedish research council. The council had been asked by the Swedish government to produce a framework of ethical guidelines for research. Its report called upon the government to allow the cloning of human embryos in order to provide stem cells for medical research. Sweden already allows stem cell research, but the research council chairman said that 'when it comes to a therapeutic cloning we believe that the risk of offence is smaller than the potential to cure diseases'.
Sources and References
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China gives green light to 'therapeutic' cloning
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Swedish council wants cloning
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