WASHINGTON -- Harvard researchers say they may have figured out a way to create stem cells without having to destroy human embryos, but the Senate still plans to move ahead on a controversial bill.

The Harvard method fuses adult skin cells with embryonic stem cells. Early research shows the fused cell essentially became an embryonic stem cell itself. The researchers said the fused cell "was reprogrammed to its embryonic state."

The scientists say the hybrid cells differentiated into cells from each of the three main tissue types that form in a developing embryo.

"We were surprised at how complete the reprogramming was," researcher Kevin Eggan said. "I think we were expecting that there would be more 'memory' of the adult state than the embryonic in the hybrid cells. It was quite clear that when we looked at these hybrid cells, they had completely reverted to an embryonic state."

The findings are published in the Aug. 26 issue of the journal Science.

Theoretically, the hybrid cells could be used to produce embryonic stem cell lines tailored to individual patients without the need for using human eggs or making new human embryos. That would sidestep much of the controversy over stem cell research.

Concerns about creating and destroying embryos have fueled the debate over a bill that would allocate taxpayer money to fund stem cell research that would destroy embryos.

The House has passed the bill despite opposition from President George W. Bush, who has promised a veto. A spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said the bill will be debated and voted on next month as planned. Frist has said he will vote for the bill.