Health

Scientists find new source of stem cells

SCIENTISTS in Edinburgh have discovered a new source of stem cells for research into diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

The team from Roslin Cells, a spin-off of the Roslin Institute, which created Dolly the Sheep, have created a stem cell line from a clinically unusable human egg.

It had been thought such eggs were incapable of producing embryonic stem cells, but the discovery means eggs discarded in IVF treatment could be used to create stem cells for research.

Paul De Sousa, Roslin Cells' chief scientific officer, said: "Typically, up to 30 per cent of eggs in an IVF treatment cycle will be unusable as they fail to fertilise or do so abnormally.

"These eggs could not develop into a viable embryo and are therefore normally discarded in routine IVF treatment."

Dr De Sousa told a conference in Australia it had been thought that these eggs could not be used to create embryonic stem cells.

But he said his team had succeeded in stimulating the eggs so that the cells divided and developed. The finding is useful as there is currently a shortage of human eggs for research.

Related topic

• Cloning & stem cell research
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Last updated: 19-Jun-07 00:42 BST