WASHINGTON — Cells taken from men’s testicles seem as versatile as the stem cells derived from embryos, researchers reported Wednesday in what may be yet another new approach in a burgeoning scientific field.
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The new type of stem cells could be useful for growing personalized replacement tissues, according to a study in today’s issue of the journal Nature.
But because of their source, their highest promise would apply to only half the world’s population: men.
Embryonic stem cells can give rise to virtually any tissue in the body and scientists believe they may offer treatments for diseases like Parkinson’s and diabetes and for spinal cord injuries.
The testicular cells avoid the ethical dilemma of embryonic stem cells, which are harvested in a process that destroys the embryos. For that reason, some people, including President Bush, oppose their use.
"The advantage these cells have in comparison to embryonic stem cells is that there is no ethical problem with these cells and that they are natural,” said study lead author Thomas Skutella with the Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine in Tuebingen, Germany.
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