Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research: No Way Around a Scientific Bottleneck

Abstract

In recent months, the American public has been bombarded with reports of prominent stem cell scientists attempting to run end-around plays against current US government policies that restrict research that requires the destruction of human embryos. These scientists, now run amuck, have derived human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) with nonfederal funding, have announced plans to establish privately funded centers for hESC research, and have been removed from the President’s Council on Bioethics after attempting to defame the character of other council members who did not share their views.