Major New Gains in Ethical Stem Cell Research

Three years ago, scientists in Madison, Wisconsin and Kyoto, Japan made a major discovery which represents the future of stem cell research. Instead of destroying an embryo to recover “pluripotent” stem cells, the scientists found a way to reprogram ordinary skin cells so that they become “pluripotent.” Ethical, cheaper, more beneficial to patients –all qualities lacking in embryonic stem cell research.

The Wisconsin and Japanese scientists used viruses to reprogram the cells. A safer method needed to be found. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that researchers in Boston have found “a new process that appears to eliminate one of the major safety concerns while dramatically increasing the efficiency of the process.”

Read the Journal Sentinel article here.

On another front, the House of Representative has reauthorized a 2005 measure which promotes ethical stem cell research using umbilical cord blood. Congressman Chris Smith, author of the measure, said on the House floor, “it remains one of the best kept secrets in America that umbilical cord blood stem cells and adult stem cells in general are curing people of a myriad of terrible conditions and diseases.”

Two more nails in the coffin of embryonic stem cell research.

Barbara Lyons