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Breakthrough 'may end stem cell row'

Scientists claim they have found a revolutionary method of producing stem cells – which does not involve destroying embryos.

They hope the breakthrough will end the controversy over stem cell research, which has been opposed by pro-life critics including the Vatican and US president George Bush.

Massachusetts firm Advanced Cell Technology has already taken a cell without damaging the embryo.

Undeveloped stem cells can grow into different kinds of tissue, and researchers hope they could cure illnesses such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, diabetes, arthritis and spinal injuries. But the work has been dogged by ethical concerns because it involved the destruction of a human embryo. The new technique avoids this by using cells extracted during existing fertility treatments.

David Macauley , head of the UK Stem Cell Foundation, hailed the development saying: ‘This is a remarkable achievement which addresses one of the major constraints to advancing research – the provision of reliable sources of clinical grade embryonic stem cells.

But pro-life critics are unconvinced Matthew O’Gorman, spokesman for pressure group Life, insisted the work ‘undermines human dignity’, adding: ‘While the embryo may not be destroyed, the human being is still being treated as a means to an end; a laboratory tools for us to use as we wish.’

Josephine Quintavalle, of Comment on Reproductive Ethics, called the technique a ‘gesture in the right direction’ but said there was no guarantee the embryo would not be damaged.’

Jayne Atherton