The end of the stem cell controversy?
Stem cells are behind some of the most promising research being done today for a variety of diseases. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.
The source of the controversy? They are usually retrieved from human embryos as a product of in-vitro fertilization in a lab or fertility clinic, and until recently, starting a stem cell line required the destruction of an embryo. The protests from pro-life supporters may be quieted, though, by the success of this technique that shows that it is possible to derive a single cell from an embryo without destroying the embryo.