Last week it was menstrual blood, this week it's testicles. Scientists finally thought to search the nether-regions for stem cells and have apparently struck gold.
From UPI:
German researchers said they have isolated cells from adult mouse testicles that have properties of embryonic stem cells.
If the finding holds true in humans, the cells could provide an alternative source of embryonic stem cells, which would avoid the ethical controversy over the destruction of embryos that is now required to obtain stem cells.
Will it really end ethical controversy? I don't know how ethical I think harvesting this particular stem cell is if I'm a testicle owner. Presumably scientists would get these stem cells from cadavers, in which case they would be relatively rare and difficult to get.
The AP clarifies this point a bit:
That would also open the door to removing testicular cells from a male patient, growing some tissue the patient needs, and transplanting that tissue into the same man without fear of biological rejection...
Finally, a procedure that rivals egg donation!
