The decision to promote embryonic stem cells is a backward step for science. I quote Dr. Bernadine Healy, former head of National Institutes of Health who stated  “the remarkable advances of induced pluripotent stem cells are beginning to subsume embryonic stem cells.” Healy states this because the iPS cells seem to be able to be used like embryonic stem cells and a human embryo is neither created nor destroyed. In addition, embryonic stem cells have so far showed no cures for human disease and have proven dangerous as they have developed into tumors. All the success has come from adult stem cells in curing human disease. In fact, Healy said, “patients who want the best hope for cures should look to adult stem cells rather than their embryonic counterparts.”Michael KeenanAssociate Professor of Human Ecology