Dolly pioneers to move on to human embryo research
Scientists at the Roslin institute in Edinburgh, which cloned the sheep Dolly, have stated that they are applying for a license to carry out research on human embryos. The scientists hope to find a way of harvesting cells in embryos which could be used to treat conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The move comes as scientists in Australia are using adult stem cells to repair the heart tissue of a male patient. If successful, the operation would be a first, as it would be using adult stem cells drawn from the patient's bone marrow to cure his damaged heart. Cells from the bone marrow have been injected into his heart in the hope that they will grow into new blood vessels.