UCSF resumes human embryo stem cell work: Scientists hope to generate lines by cloning donated eggs

Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Posted: May 6, 2006

Summary:

Scientists at UCSF are trying to produce cloned human embryonic stem cells using controversial methods. The ultimate goal of the experiment is to study how deseases develop and make stem cell lines that are genetic matches to patients in order to prevent immune system rejection and effectively treat the disease.

Commentary: Hopefully this experiment will yield successful results in creating patient-matched stem cells. It will be important for this experiment to be replicated by many other scientists at the same time and strictly peer-reviewed so scientists can share compare results in order determine the validity of the experiment and prevent the research fraud that occured in South Korea. For more information about this topic, see earler posts "Lax Oversight Blamed for Stem Cell Hoax - Newspaper: Lax Oversight at University of Pittsburgh Enabled Involvement in Stem-Cell Hoax" (ABC News via Associated Press) and "Editorial: Stem-cell policy has long reach" (Mongomery Advertiser 1/7/06).