This is precisely the kind of experiment for which we were told that cloning was required; creating patient specific, tailor made stem cells for study. From the story:Researchers at Johns Hopkins have established a human cell-based system for studying sickle cell anemia by reprogramming somatic cells to an embryonic stem cell like state. Researchers at Johns Hopkins have established a human cell-based system for studying sickle cell anemia by reprogramming somatic cells to an embryonic stem cell like state. Publishing online in Stem Cells on May 29, the team describes a faster and more efficient method of reprogramming cells that might speed the development of stem cell therapies.
The scientists hope this will help facilitate drug testing.
The argument on behalf of human cloning research for pluripotent stem cells is collapsing. Of course, stem cells was never the point of human cloning research.
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