Scientists believe that they have found a way of gathering embryonic stem cells that does not harm the unborn child and may end the ethical storm surrounding the procedure.

Stem cells, which can grow into different types of tissue that can be used to regenerate damaged body parts, are usually harvested from embryos.

A breakthrough in the United States has shown that by using ammiotic fluid human stem cells could be harvested without killing the unborn foetus.

Researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina and Harvard Medical School discovered a small number of stem cells in amniotic fluid.

They have called them amniotic fluid-derived stem (AFS) cells and said that they represented an “intermediate stage” between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. The cells have the same potential as embryonic stem cells and their ready availability makes them vital to research, the scientists said.

Professor Anthony Atala, director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest, said that it had taken seven years to verify that ammiotic fluid contained true stem cells. “Our hope is that these cells will provide a valuable resource for tissue repair and for engineered organs as well. These cells are capable of extensive self-renewal — a defining property of stem cells. They also can be used to produce a broad range of cells that may be valuable for therapy.”

Last week, British researchers warned that stem cell research aimed at finding cures for a number of diseases could be jeopardised by government plans to outlaw the creation of stem cell-rich part-human, part-animal chimera embryos. Powerful opponents of embryonic stem cell research include President Bush.

Medical charities have welcomed the research. Jo Brodie, science information officer at Diabetes UK, said: “The results of this research are very interesting and another step.

“Although stem cell research is very much in its infancy, it offers a real possibility of leading to a cure for diabetes. We look forward to seeing how this research progresses.”