From: J Corbally (icorb@indigo.ie)
Date: Wed Jul 17 2002 - 16:20:59 MDT
>Life's first moments unravelled
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_2134000/2134624.stm
Interesting stuff. Looks like this technique will make cloning techniques
a bit more refined.
>A gene that plays a key role in the first stage of embryonic life has been
>discovered by UK researchers.
>It could hold the key to new male contraceptives - and help some couples
>who have been unable to have children.
>The finding could also produce new, more efficient ways of cloning.
>This produces a protein called PLC-zeta which appears to be key to
>producing the calcium reaction in the egg.
>To test the theory, it introduced the protein into single eggs - and
>watched as they started to divide and carry on developing right up to the
>"blastocyst" stage - small clusters of dozens of cells.
>The technique has real potential to help scientists involved in cloning.
>At the moment, to start cell division, the egg is given an electric shock.
>This makes holes in the cell membrane through which calcium enters and
>simulates the surge, starting division.
>But it is a crude technique that often fails.
Looks like the walls are starting to fall in on the "cloning is too
inefficient" argument.
James....
"If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and
crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures
to satiate desires both subtle and gross. But it's not for the timid."
-Q, Star Trek:TNG episode 'Q Who'
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