For the first time, researchers have used therapeutic cloning and embryonic stem cells to cure a pre-existing defect in animals. Rudolf Jaenisch and George Daley, of the Whitehead Institute, partially cured a mouse that initially had no immune system.
To accomplish this milestone, the cloned embryos from the diseased mouse were harvested and then reintroduced into the sick mouse. The result was a partially restored immune system.
\This is a proof-of-principle experiment, which shows that nuclear transplantation therapy may be possible for human application. Furthermore, it shows that gene therapy can be incorporated into the approach to correct genetic mutations in defective cells without affecting the germ line,"" Jaenisch said.
Within the week, a package backed by President Bush that would outlaw this type of cloning will be voted on by the U.S. Senate. The lead researchers on the project said they do hope this study influences the vote.
""It's critically important when Congress is trying to outlaw this field of research. It makes it harder to outlaw something when you have the reality in hand,"" Daley told The Boston Globe.
