[MLUG - DISCUSSION] Clarification Issued on Stem Cell Work

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Summary:  Robert Lanza developed a method for creating stem cells from 
embryos that does not destroy the embryos (removal of one cell at the 
8-cell stage does not affect embry viability).  A press release reported 
that Lanza had not destroyed embryos, but that was incorrect because he 
had destroyed them.  The fact that Lanza destroyed his embryos is not 
important.  The important thing (to religious conservatives and a few 
other people) is that the technique does not require that embryos be 
destroyed.  If Lanza had wished to preserve embryos, he could have done so 
by taking only one cell from each embry, but he would have had to use more 
embryos and it would have been more work and trouble for him.  --Mike

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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/02/science/02stem.html

N.Y. Times
September 2, 2006

Clarification Issued on Stem Cell Work

By NICHOLAS WADE

The scientific journal Nature has corrected a press release and is 
considering whether to add further information to an article published 
last week reporting that human embryonic stem cells could be generated 
without destroying an embryo.

The article has political consequences because destruction of embryos, 
which is unavoidable with present methods, is the main stated objection of 
many who oppose embryonic stem cell research.

The journal's action follows numerous news reports on the article and 
criticism from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which 
pointed out that embryos used in the research were being destroyed, a fact 
made clear in the scientific paper but not the press release.

Both the journal and the principal author of the article, Dr. Robert Lanza 
of Advanced Cell Technology, say that the scientific report is correct and 
that any addition would be solely for purposes of clarification.

"We're looking to see if the description is clear, but there is nothing 
wrong with the paper," a Nature press officer, Ruth Francis, said 
yesterday.

For about 10 years, fertility clinics have sometimes used a genetic 
diagnostic test in which a single cell is removed from an embryo at the 
eight-cell stage to be tested for abnormalities like Down syndrome. If no 
defect is found, the embryo with its remaining seven cells is implanted in 
the womb and grows to term. Babies born from seven-cell embryos seem as 
healthy as others born after in vitro fertilization.

Dr. Lanza noted in his article that the cell removed in this test, known 
as preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or P.G.D., could be used, after 
growing and dividing, both for testing and, with his new technique, to 
derive human embryonic stem cells. Since the original embryo would be 
unharmed, a principal objection to the research would be removed, he said.

Dr. Lanza's article in Nature made clear that he had not saved the embryos 
in his own experiments, in which he used as many as eight cells from each 
of some 16 donated embryos. Had he taken only a single cell from each, 
many more embryos would have been needed. The press release issued by 
Nature, however, incorrectly implied that he had removed just a single 
cell.

After news accounts based on the press release drew criticism from the 
bishops conference, which opposes in vitro fertilization and human 
embryonic stem cell research, Nature corrected its statement to make clear 
that Dr. Lanza's embryos had been destroyed. But the revised statement 
said other researchers, as he had noted, could use his technique to derive 
stem cells from cells removed in P.G.D.

Dr. Lanza said yesterday that Nature had not shown him the original press 
release before publication.


Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company

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