Seizure by Robin Cook Read Free Book Online Page A

from your gums when you brush your teeth vigorously.”
    â€œI don’t think I brush that vigorously,” Ashley said with a short laugh. A few spectators joined in.
    â€œWe all shed live epithelial cells.”
    â€œPerhaps so, but these epithelial cells are not going to form embryos like a blastocyst.”
    â€œThey could,” Daniel said. “That is the point. If the epithelial cells are fused with an egg cell whose nucleus has been extracted, and then the combination is activated, they could form an embryo.”
    â€œWhich is what is done in cloning.”
    â€œPrecisely,” Daniel said. “Blastocysts have a potential to form a viable embryo, but only if implanted in a uterus. In therapeutic cloning, they are never allowed to form embryos.”
    â€œI think we’re getting bogged down in semantics here,” Ashley said impatiently.
    â€œIt is semantics,” Daniel agreed. “But it is important semantics. People have to understand that embryos are not involved in therapeutic cloning or HTSR.”
    â€œYour opinion regarding my opening statement has been duly recorded,” Ashley said. “I’d like to move on to the procedure itself. Would you describe it for us here at the hearing and for the official transcript?”
    â€œI’d be happy to,” Daniel said. “Homologous Transgenic Segmental Recombination is the name we have given to a procedure that involves replacing the portion of an individual’s DNA responsible for a particular illness with homologous disease-free DNA. This is done in the nucleus of one of the patient’s cells, which is then used for therapeutic cloning.”
    â€œHold it right there,” Ashley interrupted. “I’m already confused, as I’m sure most of the audience is. Let me see if I have this straight. You’re talking about taking a cell from a sick person and changing its DNA before doing the therapeutic cloning.”
    â€œThat’s correct,” Daniel said. “Replacing the small portion of the cell’s genetic material that’s responsible for the individual’s illness.”
    â€œAnd the therapeutic cloning is then done to make a bunch of these cells to cure the patient.”
    â€œCorrect again! The cells are encouraged with various growth hormones to become the type of cells the patient needs. And thanks to HTSR, these cells will not have the genetic predisposition to reform the illness being treated. When these cells are put into the patient, not only will the patient be cured, he or she will not have the genetic tendency to come down with the same illness.”
    â€œPerhaps we could talk about a particular disease,” Ashley suggested. “It might make it easier for us nonscientists to understand. I gather from some of the articles you’ve published that Parkinson’s disease is one of the illnesses you believe will be amenable to this treatment.”
    â€œThat’s correct,” Daniel said. “As well as many other maladies, from Alzheimer’s and diabetes to certain forms ofarthritis. It’s an impressive list of illnesses, many of which have not been amenable to treatment, much less a cure.”
    â€œLet’s concentrate on Parkinson’s for a moment,” Ashley said. “Why do you think HSTR will work with this ailment?”
    â€œBecause with Parkinson’s, we are lucky enough to have a mouse model for testing,” Daniel said. “These mice have Parkinson’s disease, meaning their brains are missing nerve cells that produce a compound called dopamine that functions as a neurotransmitter, and their illness is a mirror image of the human form. We have taken these animals, carried out HTSR, and have cured them permanently.”
    â€œThat’s impressive,” Ashley commented.
    â€œIt’s even more impressive when you see it happen in front of your very eyes.”
    â€œThe cells are