Introduction: In an age where technological and medical advances are developing at exponential rates, the law may shape or follow advances. Embryonic stem cell research is one rapidly emerging area in which the law may shape or follow advances.( James E. Bowman, (1996)) Although the use of fetal tissue for medical research is not a new idea, recent discoveries and advances, such as human genome mapping and human cloning, have forced most developed nations to re-evaluate their laws on genetic testing. Each nation's scientific community must wait for approval, guidance, or funding to continue genetic research.( James E. Bowman, (1996)) The wait is not a silent one, however, as an international debate over biotechnology regulation and morality rages.
Stem-Cell Technology: Stem cells have been called the essence of an embryo. They are biological building blocks that serve as the common ancestry of all 210 different kinds of tissue in the human body. Stem cells grow and specialize to form the heart, skin, and other organs. (Charles F. De Jager, (1995))Cell lines are derived by removing cells from a body, then isolating and culturing them on a medium. They are called cell lines because they "come from, and give rise to, other cells along a similar hereditary lineage. Creating cell lines has become something of an art form because it is relatively difficult to develop and grow them in a laboratory from human cell samples. (Charles F. De Jager (1995)) One type of stem cell research is adult stem cell research Stem cells have been found in human blood, bone marrow, nerves, and organs. Some researchers indicate stem cells can be extracted from fat removed by liposuction. Other stem cell sources include the human placenta, blood from umbilical cords, and fetal tissue from terminated pregnancies....................
