Stem Cell Sparing...
Scientists at Advanced Cell Technology have developed a technique for establishing colonies of human embryonic stem cells from an early human embryo without destroying it. If confirmed in other laboratories, this method would seem to remove the principal objection to the research, especially from the US Government.
This new technique could redirect and intensify the emotional political debate in the USA over current limits on federal financing for research on human embryonic stem cells, which could be a potential source for treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes.
The research was reported on the website of the journal Nature. It had little immediate effect on longstanding objections of the White House and some Congressional leaders yesterday although it may be too early to tell. It also brought objections from critics who warned of possible risk to the embryo and the in vitro fertilization procedure itself.
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