Stem cell discovery will use discarded IVF eggs
(sz) Scottish scientists have found a way to harvest embryonic stem cells from eggs which have been discarded after IVF because they were unviable. The discovery will increase the supply of vital stem cells available for research into illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes. It could also overcome some of the major ethical objections to stem cell research. The breakthrough was announced yesterday by Roslin Cells Ltd, a spin-off company established in 2006 by the Roslin Institute.
The Edinburgh scientists took eggs which had failed to fertilise properly during IVF, and thus had no chance of developing into a viable embryo. The team developed techniques to stimulate them, so they divide and develop. They then harvested embryonic stem cells, which can be used for research into liver disease, motor neuron disease and other conditions. Their work may lead to improvements in IVF technology, which will benefit infertile couples.
The discovery was announced in Australia, at the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research. Dr Paul De Sousa, Roslin Cells’ chief scientific officer, said: “Typically up to 30% of eggs in an IVF treatment cycle will be unusable as they fail to fertilise or do so abnormally. “These eggs could not develop into a viable embryo and are normally discarded in routine IVF treatment.
“Until now, it was thought they are also incapable of producing embryonic stem cells. But what we have done here is found ways to recover’ embryos from these eggs which have failed to fertilise.” more…
From: »The Herald« (UK)