Newcastle scientists successfully cloned a human embryo

The facilities cost £6.3m and will also be used to investigate the causes of degenerative diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis.

Scientists from Newcastle University - who cloned the UK's first human embryo - will work in the labs.

Funding was provided by regional development agency One NorthEast.

The labs are situated at the centre's Life Knowledge Park (LKP) at the Institute of Human Genetics.

Prof John Burn, Executive Director of LKP, said: "We are delighted to have these new facilities, which allow us to bring together unique combinations of scientists from the research institutes in North East England to study the areas of genetic instability - a major challenge in aging cancer and early development.