Revelations in recent months concerning the activities of the South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-Suk have again focused attention on the regulation of the use of human embryonic stem (ES) cells in medical research. Regulation of the use of human tissue in research and therapy has become increasingly topical in the European Union (EU).
The emphasis has moved from a focus on transplantation and the retention of organs for research to a consideration of the therapeutic use of tissues and the possibility of cloning. There has been much publicity about the potential of stem cells – a type of unspecialised cell that is capable of dividing and renewing itself for long periods, but which can give rise to differentiated cell types – and the ethical use of such cells and techniques.
