The science of stem cells: ethical, legal and social issues

Stem cells are exciting to physicians, scientists and patients because of their potential to develop into many different cell types, tissues and perhaps even organs that can possibly be used to treat large numbers of patients with a variety of diseases. Scientific research, while it is still at a very early stage, is developing rapidly and creating enormous challenges for ethicists and policy-makers, especially in relation to embryonic stem cells. An understanding of the scientific facts of stem cell science and technology per se, the embryology and the associated terminology is critically important to making ethically sound policy judgments. The facts, definitions and terminology are confusing and are liable to misuse by those who seek to further a particular position. In this paper we provide a concise overview of the important scientific facts related to embryology and embryonic stem cells and highlight some recent scientific developments that are salient for the purpose of understanding the ethical, legal and social issues that have arisen and will continue to arise and be debated.