Medical research: Cell division : Nature News & Comment
Cell division
.@NatureNews on WI-38, a cell line w/ tricky ethics (like #HeLa), from an aborted fetus, but essential for vaccines
http://www.nature.com/news/medical-research-cell-division-1.13273
Interesting discussion of another cell line other than Hela called WI-38 that has some challenging ethical issues. This cell line was taken from a fetus and used to develop important viral medications. The person who originally did this — Hayflick — identified four stakeholders that should really be compensated: the estate of the unborn child, the scientists, the institution and the funders.
In 1962, Leonard Hayflick created a cell strain from an aborted fetus. More than 50 years later, WI-38 remains a crucial, but controversial, source of cells.
http://www.nature.com/news/medical-research-cell-division-1.13273