Final answer:
Therapeutic cloning creates human embryonic stem cells from cloned human embryos, offering potential regenerative health benefits. It's a complex and controversial field, stemming from successes like Dolly the sheep but also accompanied by ethical debates. The technique promises medical advances while raising significant moral questions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Cloning
Cloning has been a subject of scientific exploration for decades, particularly therapeutic cloning which involves producing cloned human embryos as a source for embryonic stem cells. These stem cells hold the promise of regenerating damaged tissues, potentially providing cures for various diseases. The process of therapeutic cloning starts by introducing adult human DNA into an egg cell, causing it to divide and develop into stem cells that can become any cell type, such as muscle or nerve cells.
These advancements can trace their roots back to the first cloned animal, Dolly the sheep, born in 1996. Despite the low success rate of reproductive cloning at the time and the subsequent health issues observed in cloned animals, the field has grown and developed into what could be called the 'biotechnology century'. Breakthroughs such as the discovery of stem cells in the skin by researchers Freda Miller and Elaine Fuchs have further expanded the potential applications of stem cell research.
However, along with great potential, cloning and stem cell research raise significant bioethical concerns. These include the impact on the surrogate mothers, potential miscarriages, and deformities among other issues. Moreover, moral considerations around the status of human embryos and the implications of human cloning also stir public debate. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded to Gurdon and Yamanaka for animal cloning experiments highlights the scientific recognition of progress in this field.