Scientists Coax Adult Cells Back to Embryonic State

Harvard University, USA

Stem cell research has been one of the most promising areas of medical advancement in our generation. Political controversy, however, has strangled funds for research projects, while moral controversy keeps the public decidedly undecided about the potentially life-saving knowledge we stand to gain. The question we are faced with, time and again, is "Is it ever acceptable to use embryonic stem cells for medical research?" Starting now, the answer may not matter.

A team of scientists at Harvard University has developed a method by which adult stem cells can be regressed back to their original embryonic state. With the controversy of harvesting true embryonic cells behind them, scientists may be able to learn by leaps and bounds in the next few years.

"We have removed a major roadblock for translating this into a clinical setting," said Konrad Hochedlinger, a Harvard University stem cell researcher whose research was published online today by the journal Science. "I think it's an important advance."

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