UK "To Approve Human Cell Clones"

Scientists look set to get approval to create Britain's first cloned human embryo, the Observer has reported. An application by a Newcastle University team goes before the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) on Wednesday. The HFEA has already given its support in principle and is planning a public announcement in July, the paper says. If the project goes ahead, stem cells from the cloned embryos will initially be used to treat diabetes patients. The Newcastle University team, led by Dr Miodrag Stojkovic, plans to use the same technique that was used to create Dolly the cloned sheep.