Scientists Clone Britain's First Human Embryo; Does It Herald Medical Advances, or the Creation of Identikit Babies?

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Byline: JULIE WHELDON

A HUMAN embryo has been cloned for the first time in Britain, it emerged last night.

Scientists in Newcastle upon Tyne have created an early stage embryo using the same technique that was used to produce Dolly the sheep.

The breakthrough was announced on the day researchers from South Korea revealed for the first time that cloned stem cells have been created which are an identical match to patients with devastating conditions.

While the scientific community hailed the news, campaigners warned that any advances in cloning techniques could assist mavericks who might want to create cloned babies.

Stem cells are the …