How are things going with somatic cell nuclear transfer or SCNT?
New human ES cell lines have been made using the technique of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).
The new ES cells lines are genetically abnormal in that they have three sets of chromosomes instead of two. Two experts, Bob Lanza of ACT and Miodrag Stojkovic of University of Kragujevac in Serbia both are quoted by Nature News that these ES cell lines have no clinical potential because they are abnormal. With an abnormal chromosome state Stojkovic argues it is not even worth comparing them to iPS cells. Others seem more excited.
What about you?
Given these facts, would you be interested (assuming your funding agency guidelines and state law allowed) in using them in your research now? Take our poll.