By Steve Connor, Science Editor
09 September 2004
Scientists working with embryonic stem cells have made a breakthrough that could revolutionise the understanding of cystic fibrosis, the most common inherited defect in Britain.
The British Association's Science Festival in Exeter was told that researchers had found a way of producing unlimited quantities of human cells carrying the genetic mutation for the disease, which attacks the cells lining the respiratory tract and invariably leads to premature death. Scientists believe that the ability to produce human cells with cystic fibrosis will lead to new drugs and treatments for an incurable disease that affects 7,500 Britons and kills about 150 children and young adults each year.
The research was licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which gave permission for the group to study stem cells from spare embryos created by IVF.
Professor Stephen Minger of King's College London told the meeting that his team made the breakthrough by extracting stem cells from a human embryo that carried two copies of the most common cystic fibrosis mutation - one inherited from each parent. "We are licensed to do screening of embryos from families for specific genetic disorders," Professor Minger said.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=559671
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