You've been hearing quite a lot lately about the new developments in stem cell research that appear to allow scientific inquiry without killing human beings. Although there has already been dramatic progress by medical scientists working with adult stem cells (progress that is not mere potential but is helping cure diseases and injuries right now), these new techniques make for exciting news.Here's the take on these matters from Chip Maxwell, former State Senator and Executive Director of the Nebraska Coalition for Ethical Research:
NCER supports another breakthrough in stem cell research that does not involve embryonic stem cells. NCER has been saying for two years that researchers have been trying to manipulate genes in mature cells to turn them into the equivalent of embryonic stem cells. It appears to have been accomplished. This would not require destruction of embryonic humans for their stem cells, or the exploitation of women for eggs to make embryos.
It's more evidence that ethics and progress can proceed hand-in-hand in stem cell research. As two decades of success with adult stem cells has proven, we don't have to develop a commodity market in human eggs and engage in the systematic production and destruction of embryonic humans to succeed in stem cell research.
Chip also wants you to know that the NCER's current newsletter is available right here and that NCER represents "the folks who love stem cell research but just don't want embryos destroyed to do it." Right on.
