Scientists at Wake Forest and Harvard Schools of Medicine have isolated and cultured stem cells from amniotic fluid finding them to be “truly pluipotent,” much closer to ES cells than ever thought before. After isolation, they were able to transform the cells into other types of tissues that can be found in fat, musscles, bone, liver, and even the central nervous system. Scientists say they may even have advantages over ES cells. Besides the obvious benefit of not requiring the destrution of a human embryo, these cells aren’t as “early and wild” and most likely will not form tumors, something that has plagued most research done with ES cells. And because the cells are easier to obtain and can produce thousands of stem cell lines, the director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine says that “If you banked 100,000 specimens, you’d be able to provide cells for 99% of the U.S. population with a perfect match for genetic transplantation.”

Now how do you like them apples? Think this will alter debate on capital hill this week regarding funding for ESC research? I doubt it, but it should.

Wake Forest scientists published their information in the online journal, Nature Biotechnology.