Possibilities and limitations regarding the sourcing and use of human embryonic stem cells

The availability of human embryonic stem cells as well as recent results ab out tissue specific stem cells residing in various organs of the human body have provided novel tools for basic sciences and medicine, which may resul t in a substantial increase of knowledge and the development of novel thera peutic concepts for the treatment of presently incurable diseases. Stem cel l technologies, however, also raise fundamental ethical problems related to the sourcing and use of the cells. On the basis of a description of cultur ed stem cells derived from human embryos (ES cells), aborted human fetuses (EG cells), and tissues of the adult organism, respectively, the present ar ticle analyses ethical problems specifically related to each of these proce dures in the context of the ethical principles underlying German law.