The Value of Therapeutic Cloning for Patients

1. They do not allow full investigation of the genetic causes of disease. For example, scientists need to create new cells that actually contain genetic diseases in order to study how these diseases affect the growth and development of other cells and tissue.
2. They are not sufficiently racially or ethnically diverse. Certain diseases are more prevalent in people of particular races (such as sickle cell disease). By creating new stem cells from people of specific races, scientists could help unravel the causes of these diseases. An Institute of Medicine study from 2002 noted that the fewer cell lines that are available to researchers, the lower the genetic diversity they represent.
3. Scientists need more cell lines to fulfill the promise of stem cell research.

Using SCNT, scientists can create new stem cells to meet these important health needs.