Stem Cell Research Breakthrough

Scientists believe stem cells could help researchers cure many diseases, everything from Diabetes to Parkinson's Disease, and now they have a way to do it without all the controversy of using embryonic stem cells.

Researchers at UW-Madison and Kyoto University in Japan were able to produce stem cells by using four genes and a tiny piece of human skin. Scientists say the technology is relatively simple, and eliminates the ethical debate with embryonic stem cell research. "It is a form of research that allows us to obtain the kinds of cells we need without having to use the intermediate step of working with a human embryo," says Alta Charo, UW-Madison Bio-Law Professor.

President Bush vetoed federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, and is praising this new discovery. And while researchers say this is a big discovery, they say they still have a lot of work ahead of them.

Michael J Fox Speaks out on stem cell research =>>