Therapeutic cloning

Therapeutic cloning: A procedure in which cells, typically skin cells, are taken from a patient and inserted into a fertilized egg whose nucleus has been removed. The cell that is so created is permitted to divide repeatedly to form a blastocyst. Scientists then extract stem cells from it, and use those cells to grow tissue that are a perfect genetic match for the patient.

Therapeutic cloning can produce stem cells which may be used to treat disorders such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

The cells created by therapeutic cloning can potentially be transplanted into the patient to treat a disease from which the patient suffers. Therapeutic cloning has been the subject of some bioethical controversy.