The Stembrid Technique
An interesting article from the New Scientist looks at the work of Yuri Verlinsky in Chicago, who "claims to have produced patient-matched embryonic stem cells without resorting to therapeutic cloning. ... Verlinsky says he has already created 10 embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines using his new 'stembrid' technique. Unlike therapeutic cloning, it uses existing ESCs instead of human eggs, and so would be much cheaper and easier. ... other experts say Verlinsky must do a lot more work to prove his claim." The ethical discussion is something of a red herring; the real item of note is that multiple research groups are working on different paths to the same goal. That is a good sign in any field of medical science.
Link: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18625014.100