Cloned embryos ethical concerns

Groundbreaking discovery: Skin cell DNA can be inserted into a human egg to develop an early-stage embryo.

A breakthrough in embryonic stem cell research that could lead to people receiving transplants based on their own tissues has been both hailed by scientists, but received a cautious response from ethicists, who have warned it again raises big questions about when life begins.

In a world first, a US team of scientists used a human skin cell to create a cloned human embryo from which they were able to extract embryonic stem cells.

Published in the journal Cell, the discovery involves a technique known as therapeutic cloning. Skin cell DNA was inserted it into a human egg that developed into an early-stage embryo, or blastocyst.

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The scientists said the resulting stem cells had the potential to be turned into a variety of cell and tissue types for use in organ repair and transplants.

Dieter Egli, senior research fellow at the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, was among those who described it as a significant step.

He said that if embryonic stem cells could "be made from adults like us, that would mean we could make replacements for any type of cells we would need".

Nicholas Tonti-Filippini, Head of Bioethics at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family, said it was far too early to conclude the research would lead to therapy, and opposed the creation of an embryo for it later to be destroyed.

"I dont support the destruction of human embryos and I think it is a very sad way for us to go in Australia," he said.

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Cloned embryos ethical concerns