Theoretical and Practical Possibilities in Human Embryo Experimentation

Abstract

In this chapter we consider scientific and clinical aspects of research on human embryos. We review the current state of the art, highlighting some instances where research in the past was particularly important, but we also give speculations as to what might be feasible in the not too distant future. It is not possible to cover all topics in depth; this would be several books in length. Instead we mostly give a broad overview raising issues that we feel are relevant to the theme of the book. However, we have gone deeper into some specific areas, such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis and cloning, partly because they illustrate general concepts, but also because these topics are usually considered to be the most contentious.