Claim of human-cow embryo greeted with skepticism
Marshall, E.
Science 282(5393): 1390-1391
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-8075 PMID: 9867634 Document Number: 485142
Many scientists are skeptical about Advanced Cell Technology Inc.'s claim of creating a human-cow embryo. In the November 12 New York Times, the small, privately held company in Worcester, Massachusetts, announced it had fused human DNA with a cow's egg to create primitive human embryonic stem cells, undifferentiated cells with the potential to grow into any cell type. In Science and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences only 6 days previously, two research teams described the use of conventional methods to culture human embryonic stem cells. Some scientists wonder, however, why ACT attempted the feat without first publishing data on the fusion of DNA and eggs of experimental animals. James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, lead author of the Science paper, says ACT's cells do not meet any of the criteria for embryonic stem cells.