Oct 2, 2006 10:07 PM

Overstating the Importance of Egg Donation

This article makes it sound as if all stem cell research requires donated eggs from women: When California's program kicks into high gear, it is anticipated that scientists will seek eggs from scores of women to retrieve embryonic stem cells. No. Embryonic stem cells are not retrieved from women's reproductive eggs. Most scientists hope to […]

This article makes it sound as if all stem cell research requires donated eggs from women:

When California's program kicks into high gear, it is anticipated that scientists will seek eggs from scores of women to retrieve embryonic stem cells.

No. Embryonic stem cells are not retrieved from women's reproductive eggs. Most scientists hope to derive stem cells from embryos already destined for the biological waste bin because couples undergoing fertility treatments didn't use all of the embryos they made, and instead of tossing them agreed to donate them to science.

Women's eggs come into play in cloning, and whether or not cloning will play an important roll in stem cell therapies remains to be seen.

The article also says: "...the crucial role egg donors will play often receives little attention in the heated debate surrounding embryonic stem cells."

Hardly!

Topicsstem cells Bodyhack

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