The federal government is showering billions of dollars on unethical medical research that destroys human embryos to harvest their stem cells. So it is ironic that much of the promising research isn’t coming from embryonic stem cells at all.
“The excitement is not generated by stem cells harvested from human embryos,” The Miami Herald reported. Rather, adult stem cells are now considered as good as or in some cases better than embryonic cells in pursuing cures for serious diseases and ailments.
“Adult stem cells have more flexibility than we thought,” Dr. Joshua Hare of the University of Miami Medical School told the newspaper. “The embryonic stem cell might not be the most valuable property in actual therapy.”
That confirms earlier studies that show the extremely high value of adult cells in medical research. Those findings are important, because the cells can be harvested from adults without harming them in any way. The use of embryonic stem cells, however, requires the destruction of tiny, unborn humans.
“This is really exciting,” another researcher, Dr. Kenneth Zuckerman, told the Miami paper.
Some still see research value in using embryonic cells. But the focus ought to be on ethical research that seeks desired cures and treatments without destroying human life.