Samuel H. Wood
Encyclopedia
Samuel H. Wood is a scientist noted for donating DNA
that was used in somatic cell nuclear transfer
(SCNT) to produce mature human embryos that were clones of Dr. Wood. In January 2008, Wood and Andrew French, Stemagen's
chief scientific officer in California
, announced that they had successfully created the first five mature human embryos using DNA
from adult skin cells, aiming to provide a less-controversial source of viable embryonic stem cells. Dr. Wood and a colleague donated skin cells and the DNA from those cells was transferred into human eggs. It is not clear if the embryos produced would have been capable of further development, but Dr. Wood stated that if that were possible, using the technology for reproductive cloning would be both unethical and illegal. The five cloned embryos, created in Stemagen Corporation lab in La Jolla, were later destroyed.
Wood holds an M.D. and a Ph.D. and is a reproductive endocrinologist specializing in infertility. He is the founder and Medical Director at Reproductive Sciences Center and the surrogacy agency, the Select Surrogate. He is also CEO of Stemagen corporation.
Dr. Wood and five other researchers published their findings in the online research journal Stem Cells in an article entitled Development of Human cloned Blastocyst Following Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) with Adult Fibroblasts.
Miodrag Stojković
, a researcher and peer reviewer of the paper publishing the findings, responded to critics' claims that the work is not groundbreaking by saying, "Stemagen's work is the first time anyone has documented that this could be done with adult skin cells."
. While attending the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University
, Wood was first author on an investigation with then biochemstry professor, Dr. James M. Collins. The resulting publication described isolating a DNA nuclear matrix
of HeLa cells using a poly(dT) template, documented the spatial properties of both polymerase
α and primase
activity and then restimulating such activity following solubilization
("detergent treatment"). They discovered that HeLa cell primase in these cells is in a bound form and they determined the presence of mulitple forms of polymerase α. Wood further studied DNA, in the form of nucleoids, while in his clinical residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. The properties of two types of "subnuclear systems" (preparations of non-DNased-digested nuclei vs. DNased-digested nuclei) were differentiated along with their respective ability to retain elongation in response to increasing concentrations of salt.
Wood then turned his attention to treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as well as improving pregnancy rates when using donated eggs. During his Fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility
, Wood collaborated with the late Dr. Samuel SC Yen, then Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Chair of the Department of Reproductive Medicine
at the University of California
, San Diego, to study the usefulness of fluoxetine
(tradename Prozac or Sarafem) for patients experiencing severe PMS. Their research team found this medication significantly reduced behavioral and physical symptoms during the luteal phase
without suffering significant side effects or treatment complications. The collaborators subsequently investigated the efficiacy of RU 486 (commonly referred to as "the abortion
pill") in treating PMS but found symptoms experienced with administration of low-dose RU 486 to be virtually indistinguishable from subjects receiving a placebo
. Upon opening a private practice, Samuel Wood continued to expand the knowledge base in the field of infertility. He and his team analyzed data over a 5-year period for both fresh and frozen egg donation cases with and without use of a gestational surrogate. They found a previously undiscovered "uterine factor" to consider when egg donation resulted in repeated pregnancy failure. Furthermore, they found successful implantation rates were significantly higher for surrogates in both fresh and frozen embyro transfers. Additionally, surrogates showed a significantly higher pregnancy rate following frozen embryo transfers than their non-surrogate counterparts.
Wood entered the arena of stem cell
research shortly after the first published study of nuclear transfer stem cells(NTSC), also known as human therapeutic cloning, was withdrawn when the principal author's claims were called into question due to falsified data and ethical deviation from scientific research standards. Australian scientist, Andrew French
, best known for his work with somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in the mammalian reproduction process, co-investigated with Wood and French's Austrialian colleague, Dr. Alan Trounson. Based on meticulous mammalian study review, the researchers concluded that the rigorous procedures developed for mammalian reproduction held promise for practical application in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line production. Furthermore, they specifically proposed hESC research should steer away from attempting to produce viable offspring, focusing efforts on the use of cloned embryos as a viable source for deriving stem cell lines instead.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
that was used in somatic cell nuclear transfer
Somatic cell nuclear transfer
In genetics and developmental biology, somatic-cell nuclear transfer is a laboratory technique for creating a clonal embryo, using an ovum with a donor nucleus . It can be used in embryonic stem cell research, or, potentially, in regenerative medicine where it is sometimes referred to as...
(SCNT) to produce mature human embryos that were clones of Dr. Wood. In January 2008, Wood and Andrew French, Stemagen's
Stemagen
Stemagen is a corporation headed by Dr. Samuel Wood, notable for cloning adult skin cells. On January, 2008, Dr. Andrew French, Stemagen's chief scientific officer and Wood in California, announced that they successfully created the first 5 mature human embryos using DNA from adult skin cells,...
chief scientific officer in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, announced that they had successfully created the first five mature human embryos using DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
from adult skin cells, aiming to provide a less-controversial source of viable embryonic stem cells. Dr. Wood and a colleague donated skin cells and the DNA from those cells was transferred into human eggs. It is not clear if the embryos produced would have been capable of further development, but Dr. Wood stated that if that were possible, using the technology for reproductive cloning would be both unethical and illegal. The five cloned embryos, created in Stemagen Corporation lab in La Jolla, were later destroyed.
Wood holds an M.D. and a Ph.D. and is a reproductive endocrinologist specializing in infertility. He is the founder and Medical Director at Reproductive Sciences Center and the surrogacy agency, the Select Surrogate. He is also CEO of Stemagen corporation.
Dr. Wood and five other researchers published their findings in the online research journal Stem Cells in an article entitled Development of Human cloned Blastocyst Following Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) with Adult Fibroblasts.
Miodrag Stojković
Miodrag Stojkovic
Miodrag Stojković is a Serbian researcher in genetics with the Institute of Human Genetics at Newcastle University. He holds a PhD from the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich...
, a researcher and peer reviewer of the paper publishing the findings, responded to critics' claims that the work is not groundbreaking by saying, "Stemagen's work is the first time anyone has documented that this could be done with adult skin cells."
Early research
Dr. Wood's early scholarship laid the foundation for his future scientific endeavors, beginning with an initial focus on DNADNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
. While attending the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
, Wood was first author on an investigation with then biochemstry professor, Dr. James M. Collins. The resulting publication described isolating a DNA nuclear matrix
Nuclear matrix
In biology, the nuclear matrix is the network of fibres found throughout the inside of a cell nucleus and is somewhat analogous to the cell cytoskeleton...
of HeLa cells using a poly(dT) template, documented the spatial properties of both polymerase
Polymerase
A polymerase is an enzyme whose central function is associated with polymers of nucleic acids such as RNA and DNA.The primary function of a polymerase is the polymerization of new DNA or RNA against an existing DNA or RNA template in the processes of replication and transcription...
α and primase
Primase
DNA primase is an enzyme involved in the replication of DNA.Primase catalyzes the synthesis of a short RNA segment called a primer complementary to a ssDNA template...
activity and then restimulating such activity following solubilization
Solubilization
Solubilization, according to an IUPAC definition, is a short form for micellar solubilization, a term used in colloidal and surface chemistry....
("detergent treatment"). They discovered that HeLa cell primase in these cells is in a bound form and they determined the presence of mulitple forms of polymerase α. Wood further studied DNA, in the form of nucleoids, while in his clinical residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. The properties of two types of "subnuclear systems" (preparations of non-DNased-digested nuclei vs. DNased-digested nuclei) were differentiated along with their respective ability to retain elongation in response to increasing concentrations of salt.
Wood then turned his attention to treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as well as improving pregnancy rates when using donated eggs. During his Fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility
Infertility
Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...
, Wood collaborated with the late Dr. Samuel SC Yen, then Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Chair of the Department of Reproductive Medicine
Reproductive medicine
Reproductive medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with prevention, diagnosis and management of reproductive problems; goals include improving or maintaining reproductive health and allowing people to have children at a time of their choosing...
at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, San Diego, to study the usefulness of fluoxetine
Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class. It is manufactured and marketed by Eli Lilly and Company...
(tradename Prozac or Sarafem) for patients experiencing severe PMS. Their research team found this medication significantly reduced behavioral and physical symptoms during the luteal phase
Luteal phase
The luteal phase is the latter phase of the menstrual cycle or the estrous cycle . It begins with the formation of the corpus luteum and ends in either pregnancy or luteolysis...
without suffering significant side effects or treatment complications. The collaborators subsequently investigated the efficiacy of RU 486 (commonly referred to as "the abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
pill") in treating PMS but found symptoms experienced with administration of low-dose RU 486 to be virtually indistinguishable from subjects receiving a placebo
Placebo
A placebo is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient...
. Upon opening a private practice, Samuel Wood continued to expand the knowledge base in the field of infertility. He and his team analyzed data over a 5-year period for both fresh and frozen egg donation cases with and without use of a gestational surrogate. They found a previously undiscovered "uterine factor" to consider when egg donation resulted in repeated pregnancy failure. Furthermore, they found successful implantation rates were significantly higher for surrogates in both fresh and frozen embyro transfers. Additionally, surrogates showed a significantly higher pregnancy rate following frozen embryo transfers than their non-surrogate counterparts.
Wood entered the arena of stem cell
Stem cell
This article is about the cell type. For the medical therapy, see Stem Cell TreatmentsStem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells...
research shortly after the first published study of nuclear transfer stem cells(NTSC), also known as human therapeutic cloning, was withdrawn when the principal author's claims were called into question due to falsified data and ethical deviation from scientific research standards. Australian scientist, Andrew French
Andrew French
-Biography:French was born on December 10, 1859 in Green Lake County, Wisconsin. He would become a farmer....
, best known for his work with somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in the mammalian reproduction process, co-investigated with Wood and French's Austrialian colleague, Dr. Alan Trounson. Based on meticulous mammalian study review, the researchers concluded that the rigorous procedures developed for mammalian reproduction held promise for practical application in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line production. Furthermore, they specifically proposed hESC research should steer away from attempting to produce viable offspring, focusing efforts on the use of cloned embryos as a viable source for deriving stem cell lines instead.
External links
- Stemagen Corporation
- Development of Human cloned Blastocyst Following Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) with Adult Fibroblasts by Andrew J. French, Cathrine A. Adams, Linda S. Anderson, John R. Kitchen, Marcus R. Hughes and Samuel H. Wood. Published in the online journal Stem Cells published by AlphaMed Press January 17, 2008. DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2007-0252