This time, from umbilical cord stem cells...

A South Korean woman paralyzed for 20 years is walking again after scientists say they repaired her damaged spine using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood.

Hwang Mi-Soon, 37, had been bedridden since damaging her back in an accident two decades ago.

Last week her eyes glistened with tears as she walked again with the help of a walking frame at a press conference where South Korea researchers went public for the first time with the results of their stem-cell therapy.

And what of those oh-so-promising embryonic stem cells we keep hearing about the dire need for?

Clinical trials with embryonic stem cells are believed to be years away because of the risks and ethical problems involved in the production of embryos -- regarded as living humans by some people -- for scientific use.

In contrast, there is no ethical dimension when stem cells from umbilical cord blood are obtained, according to researchers.

Additionally, umbilical cord blood stem cells trigger little immune response in the recipient as embryonic stem cells have a tendency to form tumors when injected into animals or human beings.

I've said it before, I'll say it again: Certain people want you to focus on embryonic stem cells, and are uninterested in non-unethical variants on this research. Every penny put toward the less promising and more ethnically-challenged area of embryonic stem cells represents a step backwards in terms of delivering real scientific innovation and improvement.

Remember, this idea of someone walking due to stem cells -- John Kerry painted it only possible if we focused our efforts on taking stem cells from embryos.

And lo, here it is, done with no ethical problems whatsoever.