05 July 2001
Nature 412, 4 (2001) © Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
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Imported stem cells deepen Germany's ethical divide
Date accessed: 9 October 2001
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Nature 412, 4 (2001) © Macmillan Publishers Ltd. |
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Imported stem cells deepen Germany's ethical divide
QUIRIN SCHIERMEIER
[MUNICH]
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UNIV.
WISCONSIN |
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Eye of the storm:
WiCell's human embryonic stem cells have been imported into Germany. |
The charged debate in Germany over research
on human embryonic stem (ES) cells boiled over earlier this week, with the news
that at least one scientist has already imported human ES cell lines.
Wolfgang-Michael Franz, a cardiologist at the
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, revealed on 2 July that in March he
received human ES lines, ordered from the WiCell Research Institute in Madison,
Wisconsin. He has not yet used the cells, but plans to seek funding from the DFG,
Germany's main research granting body, to develop cardiac muscle from the cell
lines.
Although German law bans the isolation of
human ES cells from 'spare' embryos, their import is not prohibited. But with
public feelings running high, the import of cells is intensely controversial.
Last week, when it emerged that Stefan Rose-John, a biochemist at the University
of Kiel, planned to import stem cells, he was criticized in the media.
Meanwhile, police are assessing the safety of
Oliver Brüstle of the University of Bonn, who was the first to apply to the DFG
to work on human ES cells. Brüstle received death threats after the Frankfurter
Allgemeine Zeitung published details of a patent application that included
his private address.
The science ministry seems to have been
caught off-guard by the latest revelations. "I call on all researchers
planning to use human stem cells to wait for a vote of the national ethics
council," says science minister Edelgard Bulmahn. The council is expected
to deliver its opinion on whether research should go ahead in the autumn.
The German parliament will vote on a
moratorium on the import of stem cells on 5 July. But it is unlikely to find a
majority, as the ruling Social Democrat–Green coalition has agreed for now not
to impose additional restrictions on biomedical research.
Nature
© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2001 Registered No. 785998 England.
Category: 31. Stem Cells
