Scientists Create Stem Cells from Embryo

The feat was officially announced on Wednesday and conducted at the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. According to the report, 12 women donated eggs and 2 men donated sperm for the express purpose of creating stem cell tissue to be used for medical research. These stem cells are the "master cells" that can literally transform themselves into any type of cell in the body and thus can potentially be used to regenerate damaged tissue and organs. Stem cell research and use is of particular interest to those with spinal cord damage.

Not everyone was so excited at the possibilities afforded by the breakthrough however. Douglas Johnson, legislative director for National Right to Life claimed, "This is really ghoulish – creating human embryos for the specific purpose of destroying them. It’s totally wrong to kill human embryos for research." The National Right to Life group expressly denounces abortion and embryonic stem cell research.

The study comes, interestingly, amid a national debate over the use of embryos in conducting medical and scientific research. President Bush is expected to determine shortly whether federal funds can be used for research that involves the stem cells of human embryos. The debate is expected to continue even after a decision is made and appears closely related to the abortion debate which appears to have no end.