The first, by Snyder and Loring, review the events from South Korea, and places the entire situation in its proper context. With my emphasis
SCNT [somatic cell nuclear transfer], in other words, plays only a minor role in the wider discipline of stem-cell biology — a branch of developmental biology that has no lack of other challenges to occupy its practitioners' time. The focus of most investigators will continue to be developing an understanding of important core issues concerning the molecular basis of stem-cell growth and differentiation, how a cell acquires its mature identity, and the therapeutic needs of potential target diseases. Indeed, it was to acquire expertise in these more basic, critical, and enabling areas that Hwang sought to collaborate with Western scientists who had made relevant advances. SCNT will continue to be one of the avenues we pursue — though in its proper context, and along with other techniques.
The second, by Steinbrook, looks at the many complex issues surrounding oocyte donations.
Donating eggs is time-consuming, uncomfortable, and potentially risky, but without willing donors, there will be less research on human embryonic stem cells. There is concern that some potential donors are not fully informed about what they are getting into — and fewer might volunteer if they understood the downside. Some observers consider it wrong to pay donors; others consider it the only fair thing to do.
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