Research on human embryos--a justification.

Research on human embryos--a justification.

The philosophical debate surrounding the moral status of the embryo has reached the public arena. The author of this paper examines some of the common arguments against embryo experimentation, including an influential article by Professor Ian Kennedy. He concludes that these arguments do not succeed in demonstrating that the intentional creation of embryos for research purposes is wrong, unless...

Human–animal embryos to boost UK research

Plans last year by the UK government to block the proposals by researchers to create human–animal hybrid embryos for stem-cell research were withdrawn this spring as the government proposed new mechanisms to consider the issue. Researchers want to create such hybrids because they can provide valuable stem cells to allow researchers to study the development of many incurable diseases, which the ...

Creating human embryos for research: a scientist's perspective on managing the legal and ethical issues.

A Dynamic View on Justification

Human research cloning, embryos, and embryo-like artifacts.

Research suggests that cloning is incapable of producing a viable embryo when it is used on primate eggs. In fact, the entity created may not qualify as an embryo at all. If the results stand, cloning avoids the moral objections typically lodged against it, and cloning is itself an "alternative source" of stem cells.