The technique may have implications for Parkinson's disease research.
Researchers are one step closer to being able to perform so-called therapeutic cloning in mice.
The research, which will be published in the April 27 issue of Science, is a joint effort between investigators at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and The Rockefeller University. The technique may ultimately yield cells that not only can replace cells lost due to injury or disease, but also that genetically match the mouse receiving them. This approach may avoid problems with immunity and rejection, which could develop when donor cells are not matched to their recipient. Scientists believe that this finding may have important implications for Parkinson's disease research. The next step in the lab is to investigate whether the technique can be used to treat mice with Parkinson's-like disease.