NIH OKs work on stem cells
By John Travis
Although congressional legislation could quickly slam it shut, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) last week opened the door for U.S. scientists to receive federal funding for research on stem cells from human embryos.
These cells can proliferate indefinitely in lab dishes and mature into all the cell types in the human body, but their source has made them controversial. Still, many scientists argue that the stem cells could treat spinal cord injuries, strokes, and illnesses ranging from diabetes to Parkinson’s disease.