Embryonic stem cells created

This is very good news because the cells are clinical-grade whereas the cells being studied in the US are not due to contamination from mouse cells.

A biotech company in Singapore said on Friday that it has created human embryonic stem cells that comply with the strict standards imposed for clinical use in humans.

Alan Colman, the CEO of ES Cell International, said: "It is the first time lines have been made according to the current good manufacturing practice conditions."

The new cell lines have not been made with any living animal tissue and so are believed to be safe for clinical use in humans.

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