Madison-based biotech company WiCell Research Institute announced plans to provide new "ethical" embryonic stem cell technologies, which destroys less embryos than current methods, to a California corporation.

WiCell, a subsidiary of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, operates the National Stem Cell Bank at the University of Wisconsin. The bank provides cultures and technical training in embryonic stem cell technology. It is the only such bank licensed by the U.S. government.

On Sept. 12 the firm announced its intent to work with Advanced Cell Technology of Alameda, Calif., to distribute resources among other private initiatives. The deal is still pending, as both sides are unable to fund experiments with any embryonic stem cells produced.

"This is a complicated issue because of Wisconsin's prominent role as one of the states leading the field," said Ed Fallone, president of the Stem Cell Now advocacy group. "Potential to expand the number of lines available to researchers exist because of the hope to see cures. But it remains difficult to advance (embryonic) stem cells without federal funding, and ('ethical' lines) may not satisfy critics."

Without federal intervention, said Fallone, research is prone to "lack of coordination, overlap, and a lack of scientific and ethical guidelines. Anything that makes available more options to expand research is a positive step. But this is certainly not the magic bullet that will jump-start their research."

The method coined as "ethical" embryonic stem cell research removes a single cell from the seven or eight cell clusters of newly conceived embryos, leaving them alive. The extracted cell may be cultured and coaxed into growing into specific tissues.

Researchers hope such synthesized tissues may one day replace damaged or malformed ones. Scientists say such technology may benefit sufferers of degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, and Parkinson's.

Since the destruction of human embryos remains controversial, the federal government has been slow to fund research. In 2001, President Bush signed a bill restricting federal monies only to experiments utilizing the 21 previously existing embryonic lines. On July 19, Bush vetoed a measure that would have allowed funding on discarded embryos created from fertility treatments.

Given Wisconsin's role in the field, the state's politicians are vocal on the subject. WiCell's announcement gave the gubernatorial candidates an opportunity to reiterate their stance on the debate.

Luke Punzenberger, a spokesman for Republican candidate Mark Green, said Green "supports WiCell's efforts to create methods that do not destroy embryos."

Punzenberger cited Green's proposal to allot $25 million over four years for WiCell to conduct peer-review studies. Research would be supervised by independent investigators like the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Marshfield clinic and private industry.

Matt Canter, spokesman for Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, said "the governor supports all stem cell technologies working to cure diseases we thought to be incurable."

He added, "Politicians should not tell researchers what time should be spent on. Any politician that uses rhetoric and innuendo to imply research unethical, when it strides to cure diseases, is thoughtless and irresponsible."

Still, the greater impact of "ethical" methods has yet to be seen in politics.

Marquette political science professor Christopher Wolfe said the method was "largely a marketing gimmick," promoted by scientists wishing to "advance what they see as a more flexible option for research — though adult stem cells have been more successful."

Furthermore, Wolfe said, the "ethical" method does not always spare embryos, and has destroyed eight thus far.

Wolfe did not anticipate the "ethical" development would resolve the debate. "Some scientists genuinely resent any effort to limit what they do," he said.