When University of Wisconsin-Madison scientist James Thomson announced a groundbreaking discovery in November of 2007 that ordinary adult skin cells had been reprogrammed to resemble embryonic stem cells, some jumped to the conclusion that the ethical debate surrounding this science could finally be wiped away.
That day, however, is not yet here.
So with the Nov. 4 election just six weeks away, some of the world’s most prominent stem cell researchers made it a point Monday to reiterate what they’ve been saying all along: Studies on stem cells from human embryos must continue for at least several more years while the new technique is tested and perfected.