Latest research, published today in the journal Nature Biotechnology, indicates that stem cells can be harvested from amniotic fluid, which would diffuse the arguments surrounding the science.
Amniotic fluid is the substance surrounding babies in the womb during gestation and has been known to contain important cells. The report out today by the Institute for Regenerative Medicine found that stem cells can be harvested from the fluid, which means that embryos, the current way of harvesting stem cells, would not have to be destroyed. It is this destruction of embryos that has caused so much controversy, as rights campaigners claim it it unethical.
Anthony Atala, director of the institute led the research. Stem cell research is considered important because the cells can be grown into any type of body tissues, which can then be used to combat disorders like Alzheimer's, diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
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