Is the Debate About Over?

WOW! Could this be the end of the debate over adult versus embryonic stem cell research?

Researchers have announced a breakthrough that could end the ethical debate surrounding stem-cell research.

The groundbreaking technique would allow the conversion of adult cells into an embryonic-like state. Researchers have been competing in recent years to reach just such a discovery, which would allow them to perform their work without using the controversial embryonic stem cell lines.

Scientists at the the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego believe the key to their success is converting the cells by using recombinant proteins, which eliminates subsequent genetic alterations that typically occur during later stages.

"Instead of inserting the four genes into the cells they wanted to reprogram, the scientists added the purified engineered proteins and experimented with the chemically defined conditions without any genetic materials involved until they found the exact mix that allowed them to gradually reprogram the cells," researchers said in a news release.

Common sense says that if this technique is what they say it is, this should be the end of the debate. If we can get the supposed benefits of embryonic stem cells WITHOUT the ethical and medical challenges that come with embryonic stem cells it really is a no-brainer. However, there are too many people with too much invested in the culture of abortion and "baby farming". You think that last comment is a little too much? Well that is essentially what is happening. Embryos - potential babies - are being "farmed" out to make these stem cells. That is why the ethical concerns are so important and why this discovery is SO VITAL!

Update and bump:

The Wall Street Journal has more indepth coverage of this technology above including a diagram of how the process works!

The stem-cell field has long aimed to harness the master cells of a human embryo, which can be turned into heart, nerve and other types of tissue. The long-term hope is that such tissue could be used to test novel drugs, or be transplanted into patients to treat diseases. But because the cell extraction destroys the embryo, the technique has ignited much ethical controversy.

In the past few years, scientists have found an alternative approach. By introducing several genes into a mature human cell, they have been able to reprogram it to a primitive, embryonic-like state. The approach carries risks, however. The genes are transported with the help of a virus, which can cause cancer. Plus, the DNA of the inserted genes may trigger other unwanted genetic changes in the target cell.

Now, instead of reprogramming the cell with four introduced genes, researchers have achieved the same result by inserting four proteins associated with those genes. This technique is deemed to be safer because it doesn't require genetic manipulation.

Another take on the story can be found here.

In addition to all of this news, comes this wonderful news from the Times of London.

Some have been left free from seizures and better able to walk after the treatment.

Researchers said that the results suggest that the "very simple" injection of their own cells can stimulate the regrowth of tissue damaged by the progression of the disease.

The preliminary findings add to the growing evidence that stem cells could be used to treat the crippling neurological disease, which affects about 85,000 people in Britain.

Last year experts suggested that stem cell therapy could be a "cure" for MS within the next 15 years.

While obviously no conclusions in terms of therapeutic efficacy can be drawn from these reports, this first clinical use of fat stem cells for treatment of MS supports further investigations into this very simple and easily-implementable treatment methodology".

Note that this was not embryonic stem cells - it was fat cells from an adult.

There is so much more promise from adult stem cells which is why throwing good money after a promise of fools gold!