Embryonic cells, although more versatile, are obtained by destroying the blastocyst, or early stage embryo, and opponents of abortion are strongly against work with them.
Under the new federal guidelines, stem cells will continue to be obtained by deliberately destroying human embryos, if only frozen ones destined to be discarded by fertility clinics.
The cells will be obtained by private companies rather than by the researchers who receive government funds, in an effort to skirt Congressional prohibitions on funding research in which embryos are destroyed or discarded.
Applications can be obtained by calling (973) 408-3278.
They may be obtained by calling (800) 229-4756.
Locations can be obtained by calling (212) 487-4444.
Raw fish can be obtained by fishing.
The exact number may never be established: after the first Gulf war, unreliable estimates were obtained by extrapolating from the number of destroyed Iraqi vehicles.
But their use has provoked strong objections because, until now, the cells could be obtained only by destroying human embryos.
The stem cells, which are thought to have curative potential for many diseases because they can be turned into any kind of tissue in the human body, can be obtained only by destroying a human embryo, which many Americans believe is the equivalent of a life.
