title: The ethics of stem cells revisited.
abstract: Stem cells constitute one of the most promising tools for regenerative medicine. Thus, it seems morally compelling to explore all the sources that might provide us with them. However, some of these sources, such as somatic cell nuclear transfer, embryo destruction, or even induced pluripotency obtained by reprogramming have raised deep ethical issues. The aim of this paper is to reflect on the stem cell ethical debate at the current moment through an analysis of the academic literature. It will also provide an analysis of the ethical implications of the most relevant scientific advances that have happened in recent months or those which seem about to merge.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra Interuniversitaria de Derecho y Genoma Humano, UPV/EHU, Zubiria Etxea, Campus Sarriko, Lehendakari Aguirre 81, 48015 Bilbao, Spain. Electronic address: idemiguelb@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Iñigo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Miguel-Beriain
mesh_terms: D026688:Bioethical Issues; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques / Q000941:ethics; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000941:ethics*; D057905:Stem Cell Research / Q000941:ethics*
keywords: Discarded-created distinction; Embryonic stem cell ethics; Embryos; Stem cell ethics; Therapeutic cloning; iPS cell ethics