Leonаrd Ford
Devry
Legal Environment
Jennifer Stephens
In August 2001, President Bush announced that federal funds, alongside certain limits, may be utilized to conduct research on human embryonic stem cells. Federal research is limited to “the more than 60” continuing stem cell lines that were derived (1) with the notified accord of the donors; (2) from excess embryos created merely for reproductive purposes; and (3) lacking any financial inducements to the donors. No federal funds may be utilized for the derivation or use of stem cell lines derived from presently obliterated embryos; the creation of any human embryos for research purposes; or cloning of human embryos for any purposes. Legislation that replies to the limitations imposed by the President’s 2001 announcement has been gave in the last two Congresses. Across the 110th Congress, at lest 10 bills, encompassing the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 (H.R. 3/S. 5/S. 997), have been introduced.
Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Human embryonic stem cells are “master cells,” able to develop into almost any cell in the human body. Constructing on earlier stem cell research, in 1998, researchers at the University of Wisconsin isolated cells from the inner cell miss of the early human embryo, called the blаstocyst, and industrialized the early human embryonic stem cell lines. Research has concentrated on the potential that these cells can proposal to treat or mitigate diseases and conditions and to generate replacement tissues for disfunctioning cells or organs. Research efforts have concentrated on spinal cord injury, several sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and supplementary diseases or conditions. Scientists yearned to use specialized cells to replace dysfunctional cells in the brain, spinal cord, pancreas, and supplementary organs. The origins for stem cells contain one week aged embryos (blаstocysts) created via in vitro fertilization (IVF) to treat...