New Stem-Cell Technique Emerges as Congress Votes

By Anastacia Mott Austin

Just as Congress voted 247-176, to lighten federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research funding, a brand new technique stole its thunder.

President Bush has vowed to veto the bill, which is short of a required two-thirds majority to overturn that veto, because he says it is identical to an earlier bill passed by Congress last year. "I am disappointed the leadership of Congress recycled an old bill that would simply overturn our country’s carefully balanced policy on embryonic stem cell research," stated Bush in a press release. "If this bill were to become law, American taxpayers could for the first time in our history be compelled to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos."

In 2001 the President approved a measure that allowed research with existing stem-cell lines to be federally funded, but not for any new research involving embryos.

The new bill would allow for wider funding in embryonic stem cell research without restricting studies to stem-cell lines already in existence.

Said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif), "Science is a gift of God to all of us and science has taken us to a place that is biblical in its power to cure. And that is embryonic stem cell research."

Polls have shown that the majority of Americans support stem cell research, despite its controversial reputation for involving the destruction of human embryos

In floor debate that lasted over an hour, opponents of the bill pointed out that new research was being developed.

In a groundbreaking report also released last week, scientists say that mouse skin cells have successfully been converted to embryonic-stage stem cells with the ability to develop into many different organs and tissues. This effectively nullifies the debate about whether using embryos is ethical or not, claim its proponents.

The new technique was explained in a New York Times report last Thursday. Developed by Dr. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, biologists employed the method to insert four genes into a mouse skin cell that caused it to reprogram itself into the equivalent of a stem cell which is pluripotent, or able to develop into many different types of cells.

The research is considered revolutionary for its ability to potentially sidestep controversy and because the technique is considered relatively simple. Alexander Meissner, a co-author of the report issued by Dr. Yamanaka, told reporters, "[The technique] should revolutionize the field since every small lab can work on reprogramming."

The method is not without its problems, however. Scientists don’t know if they will be able to transfer it from mice to humans. Another large obstacle is the fact that two of the four genes used for reprogramming the mouse cells can cause cancer; 20 percent of the mice used in the experiment died. Other challenges include the fact that in order to reprogram a cell, it must be infected with a virus that carries the genes, and that the mice used for the method had to be interbred, which can’t be done in humans.

Despite these challenges, biologists remain enthusiastic about the breakthrough and its potential for future use in humans. "The technical problems seem approachable – I don’t see anyone running into a brick wall," said stem cell biologist Owen Witte, who issued his statement in a webcast from UCLA.

Congressional opponents to the new stem cell research bill used Dr. Yamanaka’s report as ammunition. "How many more advancements in non-controversial, ethical, adult stem cell research will it take before Congress decides to catch up with science?" asked Representative Joseph Pitts (R-PA). Pitts held up a newspaper headline about the new skin-cell research, adding, "These have all of the potential and none of the controversy."

Argued Representative Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), echoing the sentiments of other Democrats, "We welcome these advances as we welcome all advances in ethical, life-saving research. However, this new scientific research should not be used as an excuse to say that it is a substitute for embryonic stem cell research."

With Bush’s veto of the bill expected, the issue will not be decided in Congress any time soon.

In the meantime, scientists will continue to explore new ways in which to advance the science of stem cell research. Dr. David Scadden, a stem cell biologist at Harvard Medical School shared his hopes for the new technique with reporters. "[It] is truly extraordinary and frankly something most assumed would take a decade to work out," said Scadden. "[It] will have profound implications for new biology, regenerative medicine, and will change the ethical debate around stem cells."