Britain opens world's first national stem cell bank

POTTERS BAR, England -- Britain opened the world's first national stem cell bank today, hoping to establish a lead in promising but controversial medical research. Citing the "tremendous potential" of stem cells, Health Minister Lord Norman Warner said, "We expect to bring breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of disease."

Stem cells are master cells that turn into every kind if human tissue, and scientists believe they could be used to replace diseased cells in people suffering from spinal cord injury, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and other ailments. Britain was the first nation to authorize the cloning of human embryos to produce stem cells for research.

The cell bank was established at the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control at Potter's Bar, 12 miles north of London. Located on a quiet country lane, its mission is to store and grow cells and distribute them to researchers worldwide. The first two human embryonic stem cell lines -- collections of identical cells -- to be placed in the bank were developed separately by researchers at King's College London and the Center for Life in Newcastle, England.

Professor Alison Murdoch, from the Newcastle center, said the central database would enable fast research work and ensure that all stem cells came from ethical sources.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/world/2579682

The potential for assisting the ill is so great, and the excuses so paltry (these are embryos that will be chucked in the garbage.)

they need embryos at all. Stem cells can be obtained from umbilical cord blood. http://www.cordbloodfaq.com/