[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 14 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ADULT STEM CELL ADVANCES

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of news coming from the 
field of stem cell research lately, but it is all just a new variation 
on an old theme: Ethical or ``adult stem cell'' research is working. 
Research that kills embryos, embryonic stem cell research, is not. 
While embryonic stem cell research's leading scientist has been 
disgraced for his research fabrications, adult stem cell researchers 
are announcing new breakthroughs.
  One research group recently announced the development of a machine 
capable of taking adult stem cells from fat tissue and adapting them to 
treat other tissue damaged by heart disease and heart attacks. In a 
different study released recently, researchers have been able to turn 
adult muscle stem cells into cartilage, and in animal studies this 
regenerated cartilage has been used to treat damage caused by 
arthritis.
  These studies add to the ever-growing list of treatments and cures 
that come from noncontroversial adult stem cells. Meanwhile, stem cell 
research involving the destruction of human embryos continues to be 
plagued by tumors, rejection, and research scandals. As we address this 
issue this year, we would do well to keep this in mind, what is working 
and what is not.

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