The purpose of this project was to document and evaluate the new breakthrough technology of human therapeutic cloning, finally achieved this year, and to assess the ethical problems associated with it. A literature review was performed followed by interviews with key scientists and ethicists. Our findings indicate that the use of human eggs is the most important ethical consideration in the process, and egg sources may become rate-limiting if the process is expanded to treat human diseases. Recommendations were made about frequently monitoring pluripotent cell lines for DNA mutations, epigenetic modifications, differentiation potential, tumor potential, and disease treatment, before and after expansion for clinical safety. We also identified a best-practice methodology for the cloning.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Scrivanich, Nicholas John
• McNally, Adam Brian
• Xie, Jiaxun

Subject

• Security
• Health
• Well-Being
• Industry

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-082714-230249

Keyword

• Science--Study and teaching
• Stem cells

Advisor

• Adams, David S.

Year

• 2014

Date created

• 2014-08-27

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright