Using cloning to produce monkey embryos and then extracting stem cells from them reminds of yet another so-called ‘breakthrough’ in the field of science research where South Korean researchers reported making stem cells from cloned human embryos three years back.
An impressive step, true, but how many of us have ever pondered on if it would at all lead to medical treatments any time soon? This may surely bring in funds for researches to continue. But, in this case it proved to be otherwise - the human embryonic stem cell aroused opposition leading the Bush administration to restrict federal funding for it, although scientists complain of this slowing scientific development.
After all, destroying human embryos to produce stem cells is both unethical and apolitical. The process involved also demands too much of a precious resource - the unfertilized eggs of women definitely making it inefficient.
And of all things, the 2004 fraudulent that came out of South Korea is sure to develop mistrust if the stem cells actually came from cloned embryos! This smoke need to be cleared as a primary initiative, although the Australians have confirmed on it in their Nature paper.
