BOSTON (AP) - Here are some questions and answers about the cloning and parthenogenesis research announced Sunday by Advanced Cell Technology, of Worcester, Mass.

Q: How did the researchers create a cloned human embryo?

A: They took a woman's donated egg cell and sucked out the nucleus with its genetic core. Then they took a separate cumulus cell, which nurtures a developing egg, and injected it whole - with its own genetic material - into the egg cells. The cloned cumulus cell grew into a primitive, six-cell embryo.

Q: Could such an embryo be implanted into a woman's womb and develop into a human being?

A: It's hard to say. The research is at a very early stage. The scientists haven't even found stem cells inside. These are the cells that differentiate into other human tissues like heart muscle and nerve cells. In any case, these researchers say they don't want to make a whole new cloned person.

Q: Why did they do this?

A: They hope eventually to find stem cells inside that can be harvested and grown into genetically compatible replacement cells to treat a wide range of diseases.

Q: How long might that take?

A: One of the researchers says it could take about 10 years.

Q: Will Congress allow this procedure to happen?

A: The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to ban human cloning. The Senate is considering it. At least one senator, Richard Lugar, R-Ind., said Sunday that he and other senators wanted to learn more before making a decision.

Q: What is the second technique used by Advanced Cell Technology?

A: It's called parthenogenesis. The researchers put a donated female egg into a chemical bath and changed the c,ncentration of electrically charged particles inside. The egg reprogrammed itself to form an early human embryo known as a blastocyst - without the injection of another cell's DNA, as in cloning. Again, no stem cells have yet been found inside.

　　From Healthy.net