New method makes embryo-safe stem cells

[one...two...tree 2,762]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060824/ap_on_sc/stem_cells_11

By MATT CRENSON, AP National Writer

NEW YORK - In an innovative move, a biotech company has found a new way of making stem cells without destroying embryos, touting it as a way to defuse one of the country's fiercest political and ethical debates.

Some opponents of the research said the method still doesn't satisfy their objections and many stem cell scientists and their supporters called it inefficient and politically wrong-headed.

But a spokeswoman for President Bush, who vetoed legislation last month that would have allowed federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, called it a step in the right direction.

And Dr. Robert Lanza, an executive with Advanced Cell Technology, which created the new stem cell lines, said: "This will make it far more difficult to oppose this research."

.......

The new method works by taking an embryo at a very early stage of development and removing a single cell, which can be coaxed into spawning an embryonic stem cell line. With only one cell removed, the rest of the embryo retains its full potential for development.

The method was described online Wednesday in the British journal Nature. The journal published a similar paper by Advanced Cell Technology last year demonstrating the technique's viability in mice.

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

that above does not offend my sense of morality.

[dani_christine 0]

now, this...i could live with!

especially if you consider the fact that in IVF clincs...embryos are graded A, B, C etc...depending upon their level of viability. some embryos, naturally, will not develop correctly. if those can be used in this manner to expand stem cell research, i would support that with no hesitation.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

cool news.