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South Korean Scientists Clone Human Embryos, Sparking Ethical Debate
Aired February 12, 2004 - 11:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: Another story we're watching very closely today, the medical and moral debate over cloning.
South Korean scientists say they have taken a major step forward in cloning human embryos for medical research purposes. And their work is reigniting the ethical debate over human cloning of any kind.
Our Sohn Jie-Ae reports from Seoul.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): South Korean researchers report that they have created embryos through cloning, not for the purpose of making babies, but to create stem cells for scientific research.
PROF. HWANG YOON-YOUNG, HANYANG UNIVERSITY (through translator): Our research team has successfully culled stem cells from a cloned human embryo through mature growing process in a test tube.
JIE-AE: The researchers took an egg from a Korean woman, removed all the material from that egg, then injected DNA from another cell from the same woman with a chemical bath. They made this egg divide and turn into blastosis, an early stage embryo.
After a few days, stem cells were formed, and scientists were able to remove them from the embryo and transfer them to a Petri dish. Removing the stem cells destroys the embryo.
The findings by a team of researchers led Dr. Hwang Woo Suk of Seoul National University, represented to South Korean scientists and published worldwide Thursday in the U.S. journal "Science."
The technique, scientists say, was not designed to clone humans but to advance the understanding of the process known as therapeutic cloning, which could lead to treatment of diseases like diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
Nevertheless, the report is sure to spark a renewal of the debate over whether all forms of human cloning should be banned.
YOON-YOUNG (through translator): The result of our research proves it is possible scientifically for human cloning, and we are likely to revive the controversy over human cloning.
JIE-AE: And scientists also caution it will take years of further research before stem cell science turns into actual therapies.
Sohn Jai-Ae, CNN, Seoul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Supporters of therapeutic cloning say it holds tremendous promise of medical research, but ethical concerns arise because the research destroys human embryos.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Ethical Debate>
Aired February 12, 2004 - 11:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: Another story we're watching very closely today, the medical and moral debate over cloning.
South Korean scientists say they have taken a major step forward in cloning human embryos for medical research purposes. And their work is reigniting the ethical debate over human cloning of any kind.
Our Sohn Jie-Ae reports from Seoul.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): South Korean researchers report that they have created embryos through cloning, not for the purpose of making babies, but to create stem cells for scientific research.
PROF. HWANG YOON-YOUNG, HANYANG UNIVERSITY (through translator): Our research team has successfully culled stem cells from a cloned human embryo through mature growing process in a test tube.
JIE-AE: The researchers took an egg from a Korean woman, removed all the material from that egg, then injected DNA from another cell from the same woman with a chemical bath. They made this egg divide and turn into blastosis, an early stage embryo.
After a few days, stem cells were formed, and scientists were able to remove them from the embryo and transfer them to a Petri dish. Removing the stem cells destroys the embryo.
The findings by a team of researchers led Dr. Hwang Woo Suk of Seoul National University, represented to South Korean scientists and published worldwide Thursday in the U.S. journal "Science."
The technique, scientists say, was not designed to clone humans but to advance the understanding of the process known as therapeutic cloning, which could lead to treatment of diseases like diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
Nevertheless, the report is sure to spark a renewal of the debate over whether all forms of human cloning should be banned.
YOON-YOUNG (through translator): The result of our research proves it is possible scientifically for human cloning, and we are likely to revive the controversy over human cloning.
JIE-AE: And scientists also caution it will take years of further research before stem cell science turns into actual therapies.
Sohn Jai-Ae, CNN, Seoul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Supporters of therapeutic cloning say it holds tremendous promise of medical research, but ethical concerns arise because the research destroys human embryos.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Ethical Debate>
