Caution Over "Ethical" Stem Cell Breakthrough

A method of creating embryonic-like stem cells from ordinary skin cells is being lauded as the solution to the embryo research problem, but one prominent bioethicist has cautioned that there may still be unseen ethical problems and is urging caution. Dianne Irving, a former bench biochemist with the NIH and bioethics expert at Georgetown University, said there must be caution among pro-life advocates in endorsing the work. "If it can be shown that the research is truly accurately performed and does not involve the use of embryo DNA or foetal material at any stage, then it should be at least given a chance," Dr. Irving said. But she warned, "The human studies reported so far have all used human embryos or human fetuses as sources of materials for cell culture, for genes that are transferred, and for assays, as well as for the original cells that are transformed." LifeSiteNews; see also LifeIssues