First Primate Embryonic Stem Cell Generated
It’s been awhile since the last attempt to clone primates. Recently at an international stem cell research conference a team of US researchers reported the success in cloning embryonic stem cell from rhesus monkey. They were able to remove the chromosomes from the primate eggs, and replace them with the chromosomes of skin cells.
about ~8% success rate was reported (21/278) in producing a hollow embryonic ball (called blastocyst), with the right polor axis and orientation. Eventually, 2 embryonic stem cell lines were created. This means the cells in the cell line could be "told" to turn into specific tissues/organs/organisims later. The work was carried out by
Shoukhrat Mitalipov of the Oregon National Primate Research Center in
Portland and colleagues.
source: Nature 447, 891 (21 June 2007)
