Chris Smith: “Mr. Speaker, in early January, a team of scientists from Wake Forest University and Harvard Medical School announced a…”

“Mr. Speaker, in early January, a team of scientists from Wake Forest University and Harvard Medical School announced a historic breakthrough: a new readily available source of life-saving stem cells derived exclusively from amniotic fluid. The Washington Post called these highly ethically derived pluripotent stem cells ``highly versatile and readily available.'' Newsweek said, ``A new era begins. Stem cells derived from amniotic fluid show great promise in the lab and may end the divisive ethical debate once and for all because the amniotic fluid stem cells are pluripotent, able to transform into cells representing each of the three major kinds of tissues found in the body.'' And ABC News pointed out that these stem cells can be taken from amniotic fluid with no harm to either the mother or her unborn child. Earlier this week, I met with the Wake Forest University researcher, Dr. Anthony Atala, who led the team credited with this extraordinary study. Dr. Atala made it absolutely clear that these amniotic stem cells are pluripotent and that this research, along with numerous other remarkable initiatives in regenerative medicine, are progressing robustly.”