Stem-cell alternatives might resolve 'ethical impasse' over embryos

Published: 2005-05-13

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Although it is too soon to judge which might have the greatest success, several alternatives to embryonic stem-cell research offer "a way around this ethical impasse" over the destruction of human embryos, the chairman of the President's Council on Bioethics said May 12. Dr. Leon R. Kass made the comment in a conference call with reporters about the council's new white paper, "Alternative Sources of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells." Kass said the paper -- transmitted to the White House May 10 -- took a preliminary look at the ethical, scientific and practical aspects of four alternatives that might result in the production of stem cells with the same ability to be pluripotent (able to develop into various tissue types) and to be as stable and long-lived as embryonic stem cells.

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