The Stem-Cell Century: A New Epoch and Fresh Challenge

Stem-cell research is still a prominent part of the political, scientific, and public discourse. Scientific advances are being made at a rapid rate, while debates on the moral status of the embryo continue. In the United States, President George W. Bush has twice vetoed legislation that some maintain would be an improvement over the current funding environment; others argue the solution is not optimal for thoroughly exploiting the potential of this exciting new area of research. In addition, we face a number of additional policy and legal challenges, including such issues as intellectual property, oocyte procurement, and informed consent of egg donors. We review Russell Korobkin’s Stem Cell Century in the context of recent additions to the literature on stem-cell research and policy.