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Nature Medicine 12, 1103 (1 October 2006) | doi:10.1038/nm1006-1103

Scientists eye embryo-free methods to derive stem cells

Bruce Goldman

On 23 August, scientists at the California-based Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) reported, to much fanfare, that they had derived human embryonic stem cells from a single cell of an embryo while leaving the embryo unharmed—which, the scientists said, could qualify the method for US federal dollars. Fertility clinics routinely remove single cells from morulas—embryos that have eight to ten cells—to screen for genetic diseases.