Stem Cell Research and the Comment of the Chief Scientist. (November 3, 2006)

    A couple of days ago TFW sent the following email to the Office of the Chief Scientist:

On October 5, 2006 The Adelaide Advertiser's Laura Anderson reported, "[Sarah] Murdoch's comments put her at odds with experts such as Australia's chief scientist Dr Jim Peacock and Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer, who both advocate therapeutic cloning using embryonic stem cells."

But on October 31, 2006 The Australian's Matthew Franklin reported, "A  SENATE committee has voted to reject advice from the nation's chief  scientist by backing a proposed law to legalise therapeutic cloning using human and animal eggs."

Has Dr Peacock changed his views regarding therapeutic cloning in the intervening 26 days or has view been misreported in one or the other  accounts?

We received this email in reply: "Dr Jim Peacock's thoughts on the use of animal host cells in therapeutic cloning were made public at the senate committee. A transcript of his comments are attached. His views have not changed.

The three page document gives a short but considered explanation of stem-cell research using stem cells derived from very early embryos as well as stem cells derived from adult tissue. It also describes somatic cell nuclear transfer and the current state of research in regard to understanding the processes and limitations involved in conversion of stem cells to various specific tissue types. Dr Peacock notes that much research remains to be done before it becomes known if stems cells will be useful for clinical purposes. Based on the document supplied by DEST just why Mr Franklin concludes that "A  SENATE committee has voted to reject advice from the nation's chief  scientist by backing a proposed law to legalise therapeutic cloning using human and animal eggs," is unclear.

Dr Peacock concludes his assessment:

In the Lockhart Review it was suggested that animal eggs could be used for some of the research so that fewer human eggs would be required. Many scientists think that using a nucleus and egg cell from different species complicates the research. Most scientists regard this particular recommendation to be of little importance.

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Stem cell research needs to learn how to deprogram cells which are committed to specific differentiated functions so that they return to an embryonic or totipotent state. The stimuli and conditions necessary to promote the gene programs needed for the development of specified cell types can then be provided. When this level of knowledge is achieved from the research process the great promise of cell-based therapies will be much closer to reality.