Australian scientists Monday claimed a world-first in the development of therapeutic cloning techniques that could be used for the treatment of diseases such as HIV, Alzheimer's and diabetes.

Professor Alan Trounson, deputy director of the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, told reporters that a team of scientists had proven the theory that cells could be grown using a patient's own DNA.

Therapeutic cloning involves the growing of cells in the laboratory and reintroducing them into the body where they have the potential to grow into any type of cell.

Trounson said that the breakthrough had been achieved by Monash Ph.D. student Megan Munsie, who had successfully removed the DNA from an unfertilized mouse egg and replaced it with the DNA of a cell developed from a second mouse.

But he said it could be at least five years before the research was applied to humans.

"This research enables us to go on and explore human applications," Trounson told reporters.

"We've talked about it but never been able to prove it - now we can," he said.

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