Harvard scientists to clone stem cells

Scientists at Harvard have launched an effort to derive embryonic stem cells from the adult embryos of patients suffering from different diseases. Their cloning efforts will seek to accomplish what South Korean scientist Woo-suk Hwang had fraudulently claimed in 2004 and 2005 before being exposed by a whistle-blower in his lab. The Harvard scientists said that studying the embryos of sick patients would provide insight into how diseases develop prior to seeing any symptoms develop. Harvard isn't the first to sponsor a new study in this field. Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco recently renewed their work as well. These new programs have promised close oversight from review boards to avoid any repeat of the South Korean fiasco. Harvard's work is being underwritten by private sources, as President Bush has cut of federal funds for such work.

- here's the report on the new stem cell work from the Los Angeles Times