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Ethics

Is this the end of the debate for human embryo research?

Two landmark papers published this week have demonstrated that stem cells (“Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells”) capable of developing into a wide range of different tissues can be made from human skin cells. It has been claimed in some quarters that this breakthrough will end the debate about the use of embryonic stem cells.

This news comes fast on the heels of the successful generation of stem cells from cloned monkey embryos, discussed in this blog last week (see also Raffaela Hillerbrand’s post), and was anticipated in the weekend papers by the news that a pioneer in cloning research had decided to move his research efforts into the same work on “induced pluripotent cells”.

But is this discovery really likely to end the ethical debate about research using human embryos?

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Lie-detection using functional MRI

Scientific American last week reported that psychiatrist Sean Spence and collaborators at the University of Sheffield are developing a lie-detection test based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology. Using fMRI, Spence and colleagues are able to monitor blood flow to certain areas of the brain’s prefrontal cortex that are implicated in the regulation of… Read More »Lie-detection using functional MRI

Fat Taxes and the Nanny State

Two reports published today make recommendations about the way in which obesity should be treated in the UK. These two reports, Public Health: Ethical Issues produced by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and British Fertility Society’s guidelines on the effect of obesity on female reproductive health both contain important analysis of the role of the… Read More »Fat Taxes and the Nanny State

Supermouse and Superman: The Dawn of Biological Liberation

News Scientists at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, have created a genetically engineered mouse nicknamed Supermouse which can run for up to six hours at a speed of 20 metres per minute before needing a rest. According to Professor Richard Hanson the special ‘athletic’ abilities of the mice are due to the way… Read More »Supermouse and Superman: The Dawn of Biological Liberation