Human cloning developments raise hopes for new treatments

Lorraine Barnes suffered a heart attack in 2005 and has lived with the
consequences extreme exhaustion and breathlessness ever since. There is no
cure for heart failure, the aftermath of a heart attack, and the condition is common.
Every seven minutes a person has a heart attack in the UK, and some victims are
left so weakened they can hardly walk a few metres.
It's a grim scenario. But the prospects for patients like Barnes last week took a
dramatic turn for the better when it was revealed that human cloning has been used
for the first time to create embryonic stem cells from which new tissue genetically
identical to a patient's own cells could be grown.
Scientists have been working on such techniques for some time without success.
But the team led by Shoukhrat Mitalipov, of the Oregon Health and Science
University in Portland, have changed that. "We were able to produce one embryonic
stem cell line using just two human eggs, which would make this approach practical
for widespread medical use," said Mitalipov.
The development was hailed as a major boost for patients such as Barnes, who
might benefit from tissue transplants and not just heart attack patients but those
suffering from diabetes, Parkinson's disease and other conditions.
But the announcement was also greeted with horror. "Scientists have finally
delivered the baby that potential human cloners have been waiting for: a method
for reliably creating cloned human embryos," said David King of Human Genetics
Alert. "It is imperative we create an international ban on human cloning before any
more research like this takes place. It is irresponsible in the extreme to have
published this."
Such reactions have a familiar ring. When the cloning of Dolly the Sheep was
revealed in 1997 there was an outpouring of hysteria about the prospect of multiple
Saddam Husseins being created in laboratories.
At present such a creation is banned in Britain. No human embryo created by
cloning techniques is allowed to develop beyond 14 days.
Experts such as Professor John Harris, see positive benefits in reproductive cloning.
In fact, most arguments against human cloning are foolish, said Harris, adding: "It
could be used in medically helpful ways.
"Or consider the example of a single woman who wants a child. She prefers the idea
of using all her own DNA to the idea of accepting 50% from a stranger. But because
we ban human cloning she would be forced to accept DNA from a stranger and have
to mother 'his child'. I think that is ethically questionable.

Adapted from The Guardian 18 May 2013

Section A
What is the main subject of the article?
a)

Cloning for reproductive purposes.

b)

Cloning to find new cures for common diseases.

c)

Previous cloning experiments.

Section B
a)

Who is Lorraine Barnes and why could she benefit from cloning?

b)

What other illnesses does the article mention that cloning could be useful for?

c)

What is David King worried about?

d)

What does King think should be done to prevent further research?

e)

How could cloning benefit single women?

How cloning works

The nucleus is removed from a human egg cell and the nucleus from a skin cell is
inserted.
An electric shock fuses the skin cell nucleus inside the egg and it begins to divide
into new cells. An embryo starts to form.
After a few days the growth of the embryo is halted and cultures of its constituent
stem cells created.
By treating stem cells with different chemicals they can be transformed into
specialised cells such as those that make up heart muscle, brain, pancreas and
other organs. These cells are genetically identical to the original skin cell and can be
used to create tissue for transplanting into the skin cell's donor.

Debate
Cloning is both beneficial and necessary for the survival of the human race.