
Fetal cells used in regenerative medicine research
TOKYO Nov. 25 Kyodo -At least 30 university research laboratories and other facilities across Japan are using cells, mostly harvested from aborted fetuses, for research into regenerative medicine, findings of a health ministry survey showed Monday. Scientists regarded this as a promising area and hope one day to be able to replace damaged cells and tissue by growing new cells, but the research also raises tough ethical questions, given that the increasing use of cells for research has preceded the formulation of any law or guidelines.