“Able to become all tissue types”

That’s the claim by Dr. Anthony Atala in an interview with Gwen Ifill of PBS.

So these cells actually have been in the amniotic fluid for many years, and we’ve known about their presence for many years. The major finding in this study is the fact that we found a stem cell population that is a true stem cell, in terms of their nimble ability to become all tissue types.

GWEN IFILL: So does this end the argument that we’ve been having all these years about stem cell research?

DR. ANTHONY ATALA: It does not, mainly because it’s another stem cell choice. And I think you really can’t tell which cell is going to be best for which indication, and all cells have advantages and disadvantages.

Of course, the disadvantage of Embryonic Stem Cell Research is that a human embryo must be destroyed.