Amnio stem cells may take heat out of ‘embryonic’ debate

STEM CELL researchers reacted with enthusiasm and some reservations to a report that scientists have found stem cells in amniotic fluid, a discovery that would allow them to sidestep the controversy over destroying embryos for research.

Researchers at Wake Forest University and Harvard University reported that the stem cells they drew from amniotic fluid donated by pregnant women hold much the same promise as embryonic stem cells.

“Our hope is that these cells will provide a valuable resource for tissue repair and for engineered organs as well,” said Dr Anthony Atala, head of Wake Forest’s regenerative medicine institute and the senior researcher on the project.