CGS-authored

Scientists announced Wednesday that they had created stem cells from human clones, adding DNA from adult cells to the genetic material in unfertilized eggs.  The cells weren't normal -- they contained three sets of chromosomes: two from the adult cell and an extra from the egg. They would not be fit for use in stem cell therapies.  Still, their creation marked a first in stem cell research and may point the way toward treatments for diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.

Another notable thing about the research, which was published in the journal Nature: The team paid the women who provided the eggs used in the study, a practice that has been forbidden by ethical guidelines from scientific organizations around the world.  Some ethicists have argued that paying women for their eggs might create an exploitative trade. But in this case, it may be the reason why the researchers were able to collect enough healthy eggs (they used 270 in all) to get their historic result.

Teams have "tried to recruit donors on altruistic grounds and failed," said...