Adult stem cells skin#
In fact, just a day before the House vote last week, researchers announced that they had coaxed plain old skin cells taken from adult mice to mimic embryonic cells, which-if they learn to do the same for humans-could offer a simple and seemingly less controversial way to create scores of stem cells.Īlthough researchers said the finding did not negate the need for studies on true embryonic stem cells, critics seized on it as further proof that such research is superfluous: If adult cells could be transformed into embryolike cells, they argued, then why not use them instead of destroying embryos? In vetoing the measure, Bush said it would be "a grave mistake" for "American taxpayers be compelled to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos."Ĭritics argue further that embryonic stem cell research is unnecessary because stem cells from adults are purportedly just as promising. The Senate passed the measure in April by a 63-to-34 margin-just four votes shy of the two thirds majority needed to nix a veto-on a day when two supporters of the bill were absent. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 also spells out ethical guidelines governing such research.īush immediately renewed his pledge to veto the bill (as he did similar legislation that reached his desk last year)-and it is questionable whether the Senate can muster the votes to override it. Last week, Congress sent legislation to Bush that would allow federally funded scientists to study cells from frozen embryos that fertility clinic patients no longer need and have chosen to donate instead of discard. But opponents say such research is immoral, because embryos must be destroyed to obtain their cells.
efforts to discover new life-saving treatments. The stem cell community has repeatedly called for the restrictions to be lifted, charging that the designated cell colonies have been compromised or corrupted and that failure to ease the ban is hobbling U.S. Six years ago, President Bush limited federally funded research to about 20 viable lines of cells that had been extracted from embryos prior to August 9, 2001.
Adult stem cells full#
But researchers complain that political roadblocks are keeping them from determining the full potential of these cells. Stem cells obtained from human embryos seem to offer the best chance of new therapies, because unlike other stem cells they have the ability to morph into almost any type of tissue. Stem cells have been hailed by scientists as the great hope to one day prevent, halt and even reverse damage from diabetes, spinal cord injuries and degenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
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