Therapeutic cloning
Media attention has been focussed on area of stem cell research known as 'therapeutic cloning'. This technique involves removing the DNA from an unfertilised egg and replacing it with the DNA from an adult cell (generally a skin cell).
Embryonic stem cells generated from these eggs could be used a resource for laboratory based research. In November 2007, American scientists successfully used therapeutic cloning to create monkey embryos, thus establishing "proof of principle" that primate therapeutic cloning is possible. MND researchers hope that eventually human embryonic stem cells derived from therapeutic cloning can be converted into motor neurones.
This research is controversial and a subject of current debate. In particular the source of eggs for this type of research has proved to be extremely controversial.
"Re-programming" adult cells
In August 2008 American researchers generated
'patient-specific' stem cells from people with MND. Researchers used the techniques published last year to re-programme skin cells of two people with MND into motor neurones. It is the first time that researchers have successfully made neurones from someone with a neurological disease.
These neurones can be used to understand the underlying causes of MND and as a screen for selecting drugs that may be beneficial in the treatment of the disease.
Towards the end of 2007, two groups of researchers in Japan and America revealed that it might eventually be possible to avoid the controversy surrounding the use of embryos in research. These scientists have managed to "turn back the clock" on adult human skin cells, reprogramming them to turn back into stem cells that have the potential to generate neurones. These cells are called "induced pluripotent stem cells" or iPS cells.
However, this research is still at its earliest stages and there are significant challenges to overcome. Reprogramming involves the use of viruses as well as genetic modifications that could make the reprogrammed cells become cancerous. It is vital that all promising approaches, including therapeutic cloning, are still pursued.
Regulations for human stem cell research
In the UK, this research is regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) who issue licences to specific research laboratories. One of these has been granted for an MND research project to a group of collaborative researchers based in London and Edinburgh.
HFEA licence for research into MND
Research
