The Two Stem Cells

Ethics of Stem Cell Research. Australian Government. 12 Dec 2006.
http://www.biotechnologyonline.gov.au/human/ethicssc.cfm

There are two main types of stem cells: Adult, and Embryonic. Adult stem cells have been widely used in in-vitro fertilization. The main controversy stems from Embryonic stem cells, the ones which have to be harvested from the Blastocytes.

Cloning is a major concern with stem cell research, because the cells have no specific identity yet. They could be used to clone human beings which is against most countries' ethics, and illegal all over the world.

Australia has passed legislation prohibiting cloning, and limiting embryonic stem cell research:
"The Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002 (Cth) prohibits all types of human cloning by any method. The Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 (Cth) allows for regulated use of an appropriate number of excess ART embryos in approved research programs. State and Territory governments are introducing complementary legislation to provide nationally consistent prohibition and regulation of use of excess ART embryos in research."

What Stem Cells Do

Stem Cells and Diseases. 6 Oct 2006. United States Gov't, Washington D.C. 20 Dec 2006.
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/health.asp

Stem cells provide answers to a lot of questions we have about our bodies. They can be used to treat many as of now incurable diseases, such as: Cancer, certain birth defects, diabetes, etc. The reason these diseases may be cured with stem cells, is that they develop during conception and gestation in the womb, or at least the genetic sequence which determines if you have any of these diseases are formed in the stem cells which mature into cells which do all kinds of things for your body.

Stem cells can also be used to "regrow" parts of tissue previously thought "ungrowable". They can help regenerate kidneys ravaged by kidney cancer, brain tissue lost in an accident, spinal cells (or nerve cells) lost when a spine was severed in an accident, or a host of many other possible cells.

President Bush's position on Stem Cell Research

Federal Policy. 6 Oct 2006. United States Government, Washington D.C. 20 Dec 2006. [http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/]

If the cells were harvested before August 9th, 2001, stem cells may be used for research. Effectively, this halted research after August 9th. The NIH (National Institute of Health) is enforcing this policy, and it awards funding to any scientists who meet the criteria.

The criteria is as follows:
- The embryo must not have been destroyed after 9:00 P.M. EDT on August 9th, 2001.
- The embryo must have been conceived for reproductive purposes, and it either died, or was no longer needed.
- The consent to obtain the embryo must not have been induced with a financial incentive. The donors must also have all the information regarding what happens to the embryo.

14 countries have been active in stem cell research. Among them: United States, India, Israel, Sweden, Singapore, and South Korea.