Scientists Discover Stem Cell Research Alternatives
by Suzanne Hadley on 11/09/2006 at 11:04 AM
Fox News reports that scientists are finding ways around the ethical issues involved with stem cell research. Scientists have met with government blocks on embryonic stem cell research, but the article states:
In the meantime, scientists are busy looking for ways to harvest or create stem cells without harming human embryos or asking women to donate their eggs.
"We don't need any eggs or embryos at all," says Shinya Yamanaka, MD, a professor at the Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences in Kyoto, Japan.
Yamanaka describes his lab's early successes in mice creating stem cells from adult cells. His research involves isolating two dozen chemicals that give embryonic stem cells their ability to grow into nearly any tissue in the body.
Right now this process isn't as efficient as simply harvesting stem cells from embryos. But, in time, it no doubt will be. I find it interesting that such a viable alternative has already arisen. Clearly, there is more than one way to reach a solution, and God will bless those that protect life.






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