Animal Eggs "To Grow Stem Cells"

Stem cell researchers are looking to use animal eggs as 'hosts' to grow human cells. A Chinese team has already claimed to have created human embryonic stem cells using rabbit eggs which had had their genetic material removed. UK experts said the option had to be considered because there were too few human eggs for research. Scientists say cells created using animal eggs would only be used in the lab, but critics condemned the plan. The recent controversy over South Korean researcher, Hwang Woo-suk, has added impetus to the need to find new sources of eggs, scientists say. An investigation found he had faked cloning research. But it was also found that members of his team had donated eggs, against regulations. Scientists in the field are concerned these events might deter women from donating their eggs for other research. The aim behind Dr Hwang's research was to create cloned human embryos, and then develop stem cell lines from them - pointing the way towards individualised treatments in the future. But for him - and other stem cell researchers - one of the key problems is accessing enough human eggs for their work, as it can be very difficult to fertilise them in order to get the early cell clusters from which stem cells - which can become any cell in the body - can be derived.