stem cells,cloning,experimental medicine
A Reuters article 2008-10-10 reported of a new method (from Japan's Kyoto University) of Stem Cell acquisition through "ordinary" cells which make the stem cells safe.
Shinya Yamanaka and his colleagues have discovered a cell transformation technique for "iPS" cells, which are created from genetic plasmid material.
It seems that many stem cells have powerful generating capability although the best source are those which come from embryos, hence the controversy (if the embryo is human).

Please read the Reuters article ...
So far, Kyoto is working with mice embryos. However, their plan is to try their method using human cells which, if successful -- one day -- could provide new ways to treat disease.
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More on Stem Cells
"Chemists have tried making artificial blood from diverse molecules, ranging from perfluorocarbons to hemoglobin. But about a decade ago, researchers began wondering whether stem cells might be a way to make safe blood without the need for donors, says Luc Douay, a stem cell biologist from the Hemotological Laboratory at the University of Paris VI." -- from Sarah Everts 23 Feb 2009 article in Chemical & Engineering/Artificial Blood