Research
published yesterday by Japanese and American scientists shows that pluripotent
stem cells can be derived from adult skin cells. This breakthrough could make unnecessary
research that harms embryos and endangers women because human eggs and embryos
would no longer be needed to obtain pluripotent stem cells (i.e. stem cells
that can become any tissue type). Once
again, the science supports ethical alternatives to embryonic stem cell
research. Excerpt of a Baltimore
Sun article:
Yesterday's announcements raise the possibility that cells
taken from sick patients could be reprogrammed and used to repair tissues
damaged by heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses.
The technique, achieved earlier this year in mice, holds
two potential advantages. Because cells would originate with a patient's own
body, they wouldn't be likely to trigger rejection once they are transplanted
back.
But scientists said they were just as enthusiastic that
the method, if it clears technical hurdles ahead, could sidestep moral
objections over techniques involving cloning, the use of donated eggs or the
destruction of human embryos.
Father Thomas
Berg, writing at NRO, explains
the implications of this development declaring “a new day has dawned in the
world of stem-cell research.”