The Vatican arranges conference concerning the development of the human embryo, as part of its teaching and research program. The Vatican current bioethical discussions of cloning and stem cells often disregard the origin of organisms.

The Australian Stem Cell Centre says research using human embryos should start in Queensland as early as next year. The Queensland Parliament has passed amendments paving the way for cloning of human embryos specifically for stem cell research in line with Commonwealth laws.

Scientists say they have created embryonic stem cells by stimulating unfertilized eggs, a significant step toward producing transplant tissue that is genetically matched to women.

A majority of U.S. couples with stored embryos from fertility treatments would be willing to donate unused embryos for stem cell research.

President George W. Bush has chosen to use his veto pen three times twice on the stem cell issue where U.S. politics, ethics and science collide. Pushing back against the Democratic-led Congress, Bush plans to veto a bill Wednesday that would have eased restraints on federally funded embryonic stem cell research.

Three teams of scientists say they have produced the equivalent of embryonic stem cells, at least in mice. Their procedure makes ordinary skin cells behave like stem cells. If the same can be done with human cells a big if the procedure could lead to breakthrough medical treatments without the contentious ethical and political debates surrounding the use of embryos.