Nature: Embryonic Stem Cell Research 'Lite'

Nature reports a new technique for developing cultures of hES cells, which has several implications each of which would help scientists deal with what is sure to be a very difficult four years for stem cell research. The big news is not the primary finding, that morula-stage embryos can produce stem cells. The folks who brought us "W: The Sequel" could care less what kind of embryo is destroyed; whatever it is, they're against it. The big news is what morula-stage embryo-derived stem cells could mean for harvesting of hES cells without destroying embryos:

Researchers might also use the new method to grow stem cells from morula-stage embryos that have stalled in their development and are incapable of growing into babies, suggests stem-cell researcher Jose Cibelli of Michigan State University in East Lansing. "You could remove a big obstacle from the ethical standpoint," he says.

Mel Gibson, Stem Cell Advocate

Ok, he's not suffering from anything, nor does he have any other personal stake in the matter. But like Michael J. Fox, he is famous. And that seems to be enough for Mel, who shared with Good Morning America's viewers his passion for embryonic sanctity. Debating, well, me (McGee) with a self-described bioethicist by his side, he argued that there's nothing an embryonic cell can do that an adult cell can't. He'll be publishing that finding soon. UPDATE: Already the Southern Baptist Press is joining a growing chorus of conservatives in celebrating the first anti-stem cell celebrity.