Dolly Cloners Abandon GE Organ Transplant Research Fearing Deadly Viruses

LONDON August 13, 2000 (Reuters) - The British scientists who cloned
Dolly the sheep will stop research into genetically modifying pigs for human
organ transplants amid fears they could spread new killer diseases, the
Scotland on Sunday newspaper said.

The paper said U.S.-based Geron Bio-Med Ltd, which finances the research
at the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh, has halted funding for the experiments,
citing concerns over the possible health risk of animal to human transplants --
known as xenotransplantation.

"We are in the process of reducing pig work," said Professor Ian Wilmut, who
led the team that cloned Dolly the sheep -- the world's first mammal cloned from
an adult cell.

"It has not finished but it will be before long," he told the paper. The scientists
have worked on the GM pig project for two years to try to make human recipients
less likely to reject pig organs after a transplant operation.

News that the pig research will end follows media reports that the British government
is likely to allow scientists limited permission to clone human embryo cells for medical
research.

Cloning could be used to grow new tissue and even replacement organs for people who
need transplants or are suffering from degenerative diseases.

But scientific and religious establishments are divided over the ethical questions raised.