Prepared by the International Society for Stem Cell Research
Somatic cell nuclear transfer, also called SCNT, is a technique in which the nucleus of a somatic cell (any cell of the body except sperm cells and egg cells) is injected, or transplanted, into an egg, that has had its nucleus removed. If the new egg is then implanted into the womb of an animal, an individual will be born that is a clone. The clone has the identical genetic material as the somatic cell that was transplanted because the nucleus that carries the genetic material.
This procedure is very inefficient and was first developed for agricultural purposes. However, in human medicine, this technique can be used to isolate embryonic stem cells from eggs that undergo nuclear transplantation. When the somatic cell is supplied from the cells of a person, the stem cells isolated from the developing eggs can be used to make a tissue that will not be rejected by that person, because they have the same genetic material. In this way, 'customized' embryonic stem cells could be made for everyone who needed them.
Example of Research utilizing SCNT cells:
Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research Praises Korean Scientists For New Embryonic Stem Cell Work
Study in Science Magazine Provides Hope to Millions Suffering from Life-Threatening Diseases and Conditions
Washington, DC—February 12, 2004—The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) praised a newly published study in Science Magazine, which reports that Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT or commonly called therapeutic cloning) can yield pluripotent human embryonic stem cells. The paper, to be released today at the 2004 AAAS Annual Meeting in Seattle, describes the development of embryonic stem cells harvested from a human blastocyst produced by transferring the nucleus of a cell into a nucleus-free egg from the same donor. The research was conducted at Seoul National University in Korea. CAMR, comprised of over 80 nationally recognized patient groups, universities, and scientific societies, led the charge to support federal funding of embryonic stem cell research and has led the efforts opposing a ban on therapeutic cloning.
