Great news for life! Last week, two scientists announced an incredible breakthrough in stem-cell research. The news comes as a shock to those who thought the only way to get pluripotent stem cells was by destroying a human embryo. This breakthrough—as if using stem-cell research for medical cures were really the issue—should end the debate over destroying human embryos for research. The two scientists have demonstrated that it is not necessary to use human embryos to get pluripotent stem cells. These kind of stem cells can be retrieved from adult skin cells. Now, the question lingers, “Why should we destroy a human embryo.” No good answer exists.
National Review Online has a summary article of how different people have responded to this news.
Gregory C. Cochran 
Slow down! This technology is in it’s infancy (sorry). There’s still the tiny problem that the new cells metastasize. I hope it works, but it’s way, way too early to tout this as a breakthrough.
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No need to apologize for the infancy of the technology. I understand how new it is. What I am pointing out is how devastating it is for the argument that we should be destroying human embryos. I linked the article from National Review to chronicle what many other scientists are saying in response to this breakthrough. Just out of curiosity, Kip, have you been urging the slow down of embryonic stem cell research over the past 8 years? The iPS touted by embryonic stem cell researchers have the tiny problem, too; yet folks have urged the speed up of that research.
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I’m sorry if I sounded a little harsh. I have major problems with embryonic stem cell research, I can’t even begin to understand all the moral/ethical implications it raises.
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