A Stem Cell Achievement

Scientists in Oregon have successfully cloned monkey embryos from the skin cells of an adult monkey and then extracted stem cells from them — the first time this feat has been achieved in any animal other than mice. The same method might also work in humans, bringing researchers closer to the goal of creating embryonic stem cells to study diseases and ultimately treat them with new drugs or stem cell therapies.

Scientists had previously cloned embryos of other species, but they had never been able to clone a primate — let alone extract primate stem cells. Now researchers at the Oregon Health and Science University have succeeded. They created embryos that were genetically identical to an adult monkey, extracted stem cells from them and grew the stem cells into heart cells and nerve cells that could, theoretically, be used to replace damaged cells.

The most immediate application will be to study diseases in monkeys that closely mimic human diseases, analyze how they develop in a laboratory dish and find ways to treat them. This research is likely to be welcomed by both sides of the battles over stem cells.

Using this technique to make human stem cells will still face daunting technical hurdles. The researchers used more than 300 monkey eggs to produce just one normal stem cell line. The success rate is bound to improve, but it may be difficult to find enough human egg donors to allow the research to move forward rapidly.

The Oregon achievement ought to galvanize Congress to expand the array of embryonic stem cell research that can receive federal financing. This research should not be hobbled by the opposition of President Bush and his backers among religious conservatives, who have severely limited the availability of federal funds. The potential benefits for human health are far too important.