Germany receives green light on stem cell research

Home

In the past, Germany has been restricted by their parliamentary laws in certain developmental areas of embryonic stem cell research. Because of the broad stigma attached to German research and development during World War II, Germany has been hesitant to partake in any studies that hark back to their not so illustrious background during this time frame. However, the Bundestag, or lower house of the German Parliament, decided recently to relax restrictions for the use of human cells in stem cell research.
No doubt about it, Germany has been left behind in research capabilities because of these restrictions. Relaxing the import of embryonic stem cell lines created before 2007 will enable German scientists and researchers to catch up with stem cell research and development. There is also no doubt that researchers around the world understand and believe that such stem cell research may develop into possible treatments and cures for diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, as well as multiple forms of heart, lung, and brain tissue injuries and diseases.

Moral and ethical debates on the use of embryonic stem cells still rage, but with the relaxation of restrictions, it is quite possible that Germany will also join the growing numbers of scientists and researchers seeking non-embryonic stem cell development for the treatment of a wide variety of disease processes. Non-embryonic stem cell treatments, which use adult stem cells - most commonly from the patient themselves - do not contain the ethical dilemma that surrounds embryonic stem cell research.

< Prev		Next >

Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Smart Cells International. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.

Select country: