Cow-human cross embryo lives three days - expected to provide limitless supply of stem cells!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Human-cow embryos have been created in a world first at Newcastle University in England, hailed by the scientific community, but labelled "monstrous" by opponents.

A team has grown hybrid embryos after injecting human DNA into eggs taken from cows' ovaries, which had most of their genetic material removed.

The embryos survived for three days and are intended to provide a limitless supply of stem cells to develop therapies for diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and spinal cord injuries, overcoming a worldwide shortfall in human embryos.

Dr Teija Peura, director of human embryonic stem cell laboratories at the Australian Stem Cell Centre, said somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) had been done between animal species, but the "99 per cent human" embryos could boost research.

"If successful, they would provide an important additional research tool to help realisation of stem cell-based therapies for human diseases," Dr Peura said.

"All avenues of research, including SCNT . . . need to be encouraged if we want to fulfil the promises of stem cell technologies."

But her colleague, Dr Andrew Laslett, warned the process was yet to yield a stem cell line and so it remained only an academic possibility.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23476...from=public_rss

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Hurrah!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Are you sh1tting us Master Troll or is this for real?

ME thinkssss..... Dr. Moreau won

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Today is 4/2,not 4/1. Ergo this must be for real. Everything read and posted on the Internet on days other than 4/1 get the automatic seal of authenticity.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Today is 4/2,not 4/1. Ergo this must be for real. Everything read and posted on the Internet on days other than 4/1 get the automatic seal of authenticity.

Uh-oh. Then I guess I can FINALLY order my vampire wings..... weeheeee :dance:

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

But first, you must allow me to insert this syringe full of bat fluids into your arm. Roll up your sleeve, this won't hurt.

[nane1104 146]

I'm getting sick

But ooh, it's for a good cause, right???

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You guys should look up "Geeps".

[mawilson 2,133]

Why not just get a bunch of teenage girls pregnant and harvest their embryos?

[HAL 9000 96]

Its most likely not really a true hybrid. The technique is supposed to remove virtually all of the original genetic material from the donor bovine egg. However... you never know.

Will this mean that there could be mad human disease someday? Human burgers? Human... you get the picture.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I've started a poll to explore VJ feelings on the subject

[nane1104 146]

Why not just get a bunch of teenage girls pregnant and harvest their embryos?

OMG, I hope, someday I will be used to your kind of humor...

Edited April 2, 2008 by nane1104

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Hurrah!

:no:

[mawilson 2,133]

[HAL 9000 96]

Hurrah!

:no:

Put a cowboy hat on it and you got yourself a Mad Cowboy