Several revolutionary techniques detailed in the journal Nature show people demanding the use of embryos for scientific research are more outdated than ever.
While this new research that involves reprogramming adult cells is promising, the research is not problem-free: Reprogrammed adult cells may have the propensity to form tumors, just like embryonic stem cells.
But over the last three months, seven studies have been published in scientific journals showing how skin cells can be directly converted into other types. Three published by Nature in mid-August detail the process by which scientists used them to create new nerve cells and neurons — including the kind lost to Parkinson's disease.
A fourth study, done by a Swedish research team and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in June, noted that not only does direct conversion eliminate the ethical problems of using embryonic stem cells, but also their tendency to form tumors.
"The ongoing research involving progress with reprogrammed adult cells," said Dawn McBane, bioethics analyst for CitizenLink, "continues to demonstrate that unethical and impractical embryonic stem cell research should be a thing of the past."
Contact: Karla Dial
Source: CitizenLink
