The use of embryonic stem cells has been a controversial topic with many people. According to Reverend Tadeusz Pacholczyk, director of education at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, “Any procedure that places at risk the health and life of a human embryo for purposes that do not directly benefit the embryo is morally unacceptable.”
These opposing viewpoints have encouraged scientists to research new techniques to create stem cells–without destroying a viable human embryo. And now, two scientists have done just that. The process involves transforming human skin cells into stem cell lines, which could speed the application of stem cell therapies dramatically.
While scientists are hopeful that skin cells will become the most common source for stem cells, further investigation is needed. The transformation process has opened up the possibility for deadly viruses and genetic mutations, while the original embryonic stem cell does not have that threat.