An American university has announced its intention to clone human embryos, becoming the first university in the country to publicly embrace the procedure.
The intent of the project undertaken by Stanford University in California is to produce stem cells for medical research.
The work will be part of the new Institute for Cancer/Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, launched with a $12 million anonymous donation.
Much of the institute's research will be geared to treating cancer. Any stem cells created will be shared with outside researchers, many of whom complain of inadequate access to currently available stem cell lines.
Dr Irving Weissman, an outspoken stem cell research proponent, was named institute director. Dr Weissman, serving as chairman of a National Academy of Sciences panel, testified before the US Senate earlier this year in favour of cloning human embryos as a supply source for stem cells.
Scientists believe embryonic stem cells, which are created in the first days of pregnancy and develop into all the cells that comprise a human body, can be used to treat many illnesses. Embryos are destroyed to harvest the stem cells, and some abortion opponents and others oppose the research.
Last year, President George W Bush limited federal funding to stem cell lines created before August 9th, 2001. Of those 78 stem cell colonies worldwide, only about a dozen are in good enough condition to use in experiments.
"Our avowed goal is to advance science," Dr Weissman said. "For any group to stay out of the action and wait for someone else to do it because of political reasons is wrong."
AP