Stem Cell Research

Abstract

Regardless of the nature of the national political climate, most countries find stem cell research extremely controversial. Because experiments on human embryos are seen as threatening life and human dignity, and as a number of religious organizations have taken strong stances against research in this area, many governments have placed sharp restrictions or outright bans on public funding of human embryonic stem cells. The well-organized character of the opposition and the fundamental nature of the ethical considerations have turned this policy area into one of high visibility and high conflict. Generally, this combination of qualities is the ideal recipe for a restrictive biotech policy approach.