Regulation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research in Germany

The ethical dilemma of hES-cell research

Human embryonic stem cells (hES-cells) have two distinctive properties: they are able to replicate in an artificial medium more or less indefinitely, and they are capable of differentiating into each of the cell types which make up the human body. They do not have, however, the ability to develop into a complete and functioning human organism. hEScells are, therefore, not considered human embryos.