Rafaela de Figueiredo
The name of this article is "Scientists Use Monkey Clones to Extract Stem cells" it was written by Gina Kolata. This article talks about researches in Oregon about using cloning to produce monkey embryos and then extracted stem cells from these embryos.
These research has been tested only in mice, but scientists say that the same method should work on humans. In 2004, South Korean researchers reported that if we make stem cells from cloned human embryos, they will not work. But now, with new technology we could do that and scientists are quite sure that it will work on humans.
So, the article talks about this monkeys’ stem cells that are identical to an adult monkey Semos. These cells, are ones that can in theory, develop into any tissue or organ.
Medical researchers groups have hoped to use human embryonic stem cells to study diseases and try to supply new cells to treat these diseases. So far, stem cell research has not created cures, and many problems are yet to solve.
A benefit of using cloning to get stem cells is that they would genetically match a patients cells, making it pointless to destroy the immune system if the stem cells are used in a treatment. Cloning could also produce stem cells that match patients with difficult diseases, like Alzheimer’s. That might let scientists study cells to understand how these types of diseases develop.
With the monkey research, some scientists say that cloned human embryonic stem cells could become true. There is no way to know whether this will be harder or easier to repeat this process on. “The next step is definitely doing it in humans.” - said Dr. Leonard Zon, director of the stem cell program at Harvard’s Children’s Hospital
This is something unbelievable. Imagine what it will happen if this turns out to work on humans. We could cure several diseases that nowadays seem impossible to cure. How many people have died because of Parkinson’s disease, heart diseases, stroke, cancer etc. Stem cell research can help treat lots of medical problems. It could lead humanity closer to a good treatment and possibly cure a number of diseases. The treatments of these diseases could also give major social benefits for these patients.
I have heard about lots of cases of people that have diabetes. Lots of people in my family have diabetes and the stem cell research could also help with the treatment of diabetes. My heart breaks every time I see my grandmother not been able to eat what she would like to eat or not being able to cure herself easily not even with medical help.
People that have cancer would be able to do things they can’t do. This is huge! I really hope this turns out to be a success I hope that they can use clones to extract stem cells if it is the best thing to do. I am positive that the world will be a better place if this turns out to be a triumph.
