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PR: Breakthrough should reverse Decision
03.03.2009
New Stem Cell Breakthrough should cause UCC to reverse decision to begin embryonic Stem Cell research
Youth Defence has called on UCC’s governing body to reverse its proposal to begin human embryonic stem cell research in light of an exciting new breakthrough which may supply limitless embryonic-like stem cells without involving human embryos.
“Today brought the exciting news that scientists have found a way to make an almost limitless supply of stem cells that could safely be used in patients – without involving human embryos,” said Íde Nic Mhathúna of Youth Defence.
British and Canadian scientists have found a way of reprogramming skin cells taken from adults, in a process that effectively winds the clock back on the cells until they are in an embryonic form.
The breakthrough, which avoids harming human embryos, has been hailed as a major step forward by scientists. Ms Nic Mhathúna said it vindicated Youth Defence’s description of the UCC proposal to begin embryonic stem cell research as “unethical and scientifically indefensible”.
“Scientists are turning away from research that destroys human embryos, since it is unethical and it doesn’t work,” she said. “Sir Ian Wilmut, who led the team that cloned Dolly the Sheep, heads the team where this breakthrough was made. Like many other leaders in this field he is pursuing the research that gives results – and that’s clearly not research on human embryos.”
“UCC made a politically-motivated mistake in approving embryonic stem cell research,” she added. “They should now have the courage to own up to that mistake and, instead of wasting taxpayer’s monies on research that destroys embryos, UCC should become a centre of excellence for ethical stem cell research.”
Youth Defence said the breakthrough was a triumph for ethics and for science. “It shows that when scientists are faced with an ethical problem, the best brains will find a way to overcome the problem rather than ditching their ethics,” said Ms Nic Mhathúna.
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