Human embryos may not be needed for stem cell research

A NEW technique that creates human stem cells from fragments of skin could end the controversial use of human embryos to harvest stem cells, according to an Irish expert in human stem cell research.

Harvard-based Stephen Sullivan said the new method could end the ethical dilemma faced by many Irish scientists in a country where there is robust pro-life opposition to use of human embryos in research.

“We can now re-programme stem cells without the need for cloning, thus releasing the constraints faced by scientists in Ireland for the past decade,” Dr