Wonder how many people who still have religious or philosophical problems with stem cell research will be pulled over to the other side by this?
Scientists at Advanced Cell Technology Inc., the Worcester stem cell company that is running out of cash, reported yesterday that they have created large numbers of red blood cells from human embryonic stem cells.
[. . .]
Embryonic stem cells have been the subject of widespread scientific interest and social controversy. But the research has proved difficult, even as it continues to offer the tantalizing possibility of growing replacement tissues for patients.
Other scientists had shown that red blood cells could be created from embryonic stem cells. The signal accomplishment of ACT, working with researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Mayo Clinic, was proving that billions of cells could be produced.
The closer scientists get to repairing the ordinary ills of living and aging through stem cell research, the fewer objections there will be. Just as the abortion debate tends to change for people who are suddenly faced with real-life experience, so will the stem-cell debate when people no longer believe the science is just aimed at curing exotic diseases few people get. WIMBY (when it's my back yard) is the opposite of NIMBY.
