New Stem Cell Method Could Ease Ethical Concerns – New York Times
Two teams of scientists are reporting today that they turned human skin cells into what appear to be embryonic stem cells without having to make or destroy an embryo — a feat that could quell the ethical debate troubling the field.
I can’t help but be cynical about this. I fully expect the right wingers to now think up some new excuse why stem cell research must be stopped. But we’ll see. Maybe this new technique – if it does really work – will get around the controversy and get us (America) back on track in the field of medical genetic therapy research. Personally, I’m hoping we find a cure for Alzheimer’s before I’m old enough to get it, and preferably before my parents are old enough to get it!
It’s far from removing the need for ES cell research.
Let me quote the last line of the actual paper:
“Human iPS cells, however, are not identical to hES cells: DNA microarray analyses detected differences between the two pluripotent stem cell lines. Further studies are essential to determine whether human iPS cells can replace hES in medical applications.”
This work has just been an interesting diversion.