Study raises stem cell questions

February 17, 2010

A new study has raised doubts about the creation of “ethical” all-purpose stem cells for use in research and treatments. Embryonic stem cells have the power to develop into any of the 220 cell types that make up the different tissues of the human body, but are controversial because they must be extracted from human embryos – a situation many thought would change with the development of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which “reprogram” ordinary cells to act as stem cells. (The Press Association)