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Cloning breakthrough used to treat Parkinsons

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Therapeutic cloning has been successfully used to treat Parkinson's disease in mice, US researchers say. The study provides the best evidence so far that the controversial technique could one day help people with the condition.

Parkinson's disease is a condition where nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls muscle movement either die or become impaired. In therapeutic cloning, the nucleus of a cell is inserted into an egg with the nucleus removed. This cell then develops into an embryo from which stem cells can be harvested and used as a treatment.

In this study, stem cells were developed into dopamine-producing neurons the missing nerve cells in Parkinson's disease. Scientists are pursuing the use of stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease because it would allow the replacement of the dead dopamine-producing nerve cells with new, healthy cells.
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