2001 saw many advances in science.  Lert us know what you think the most significant scientific advancement for the year 2001 is by visiting our Message Board.

The scientists at Advanced Cell Technology came to their laboratory on October 13, 2001 and discovered what they had been striving for the last several months- microscopic balls of dividing cells. The first cloned human embryos. The scientists hoped to divide these embryos into hollow spheres called blastocysts, but only one of the embryos made it to the six-cell stage where it stopped dividing. They realized that cloning a human baby for couple that could not have one of their own was in their reach but could not continue because of potential dangers for the mother and the fetus.

A short time after the September 11 attacks government officials and media outlets got letters that contained spores of deadly anthrax. A letter with Anthrax in it and written in strange block lettering was addressed to Senator Tom Daschile in Washington. It said, "you cannot stop us. We have this anthrax you die now. Are you afraid?" These letters were sent to Washington, New York, and Florida. These letters brought a new threat, the threat of biological concerns. Since October five people have died of Anthrax. Authorities have still not found the origin of the letters.
 

Smallpox has a fatality rate of 30 percent or more and can spread in any climate or season. It was once world wide, and almost everyone eventually contracted the disease. By 1980 smallpox had been eradicated and countries ceased vaccination. The Soviet government embarked on a program to grow smallpox that same year and adapt it for use in bombs and ballistic missiles. The disease is physically disfiguring, there is no treatment, and it is communicable from person to person. Vaccination in this country ceased in 1972 . Smallpox is spread by droplet nuclei expelled from the oropharynx of the infected person. Contaminated clothing or bed linen could also spread the virus. There is an average incubation period of 12 to 14 days; followed by a high fever, malaise, headache, and backache. A rash then appears which becomes vesicular; crusts begin to form and scab leaving pitting scars. There are no anti viral agents effective in treating smallpox. Vaccination is the only preventive therapy. After 9-11-01 renewed vaccine production has been initiated because of feared biological attacks using this disease.