According to University of Michigan research team, the finding raises social justice questions that must be addressed to ensure that all sectors of society benefit from stem cell advances.

The researchers analysed 47 embryonic stem cell lines, including most of the lines commonly used by stem cell researchers.

They determined the genetic ancestry of each line and found that most were derived from donors of northern and western European ancestry.

Several of the lines are of Middle Eastern or southern European ancestry. Two of the lines are of East Asian origin. None of the lines were derived from individuals of recent African ancestry, from Pacific Islanders, or from populations indigenous to the Americas.