Stem Cells Derived from Amniotic Fluid No Substitute for Embryonic Cells
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Genetics Policy
Institute (GPI) applauds the discovery of apparently versatile stem cells
in amniotic fluid as a positive development, but cautions that the research
does not eliminate the need for embryonic stem cell research. "This
discovery is a welcome development that opens up a new line of research,"
said Eve Herold, who is GPI's director of public policy research and
education and also the author of the recent book, Stem Cell Wars: Inside
Stories from the Frontlines. "However, much more work needs to be done
before anyone can determine the cells' future clinical value." Over the
weekend, a team of scientists led by Anthony Atala at Wake Forest
University School of Medicine announced that it had cultured what appeared
to be highly versatile stem cells, which were taken from the amniotic fluid
of women who were about ten weeks pregnant.
Stem cell researcher Dr. Larry Goldstein, whose work at the University
of California-San Diego focuses on neurons derived from embryonic stem
cells, noted that the Wake Forest team had culled cells that appeared to be
neurons. However, he said "Based on what they have published, the [amniotic
fluid- derived] cells don't seem to make neurons as usable as what we
routinely make with human embryonic stem cells. But perhaps with further
work, their cells and methods will improve."
"People have been excited about new cell types in the past and were
later disappointed," Herold cautioned. "Science is a slow process.
Experiments need to be repeated and independently verified before they
become established as facts. However, this line of research should
definitely be pursued along with all other types of stem cell research.
This early report does not suggest that we should abandon the science that
has been proven over and over again to be so promising."
"There is only one 'card carrying' pluripotent human embryonic stem
cell. Patients demanding cures must reject any attempted spin on this story
claiming the work with fetal cells is an actual alternative to current
embryonic stem cell research. Most scientists believe that different types
of stem cells will eventually be needed to treat different diseases. For
this entire field to advance, the current federal restrictions on funding
must be lifted now," said Bernard Siegel, executive director of the
Genetics Policy Institute.
For more information about GPI, visit their website at
http://www.genpol.org.
For more information, contact: Eve Herold, +1-703-425-8831, (c)
+1-703-598-6732 or [log in to unmask]
SOURCE Genetics Policy Institute
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
