The Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board, Sentrum, Oslo, Norway (E-mail,
Cytotechnology. 2003 Mar;41(2-3):59-68. doi: 10.1023/A:1024862403630.
Mammalian embryonic stem cells have the potential to differentiate into all cell types of an adult individual. The culturing of human embryonic stem cells renders possible studies that were previously only available in animal models. Embryonic stem cells constitute a particularly attractive tool for studies of self-renewal, commitment, differentiation, maturation and cell-cell interaction. There is currently considerable hope that studies of embryonic stem cells will lead to new therapies; either by themselves, through cell replacement strategies, or by generating results assisting other fields of research to reach clinical results. There are, however, considerable challenges to be met before embryonic stem cells can be used in large-scale clinical trials.Stem cell research is an area that has given rise to much debate internationally, within science, law and politics as well as within philosophy and ethics. The ethical attitudes expressed in the public debate over stem cell research notably divide over three important distinctions: (1) Reproductive versus therapeutic cloning; (2) Using already existing embryos versus producing new embryos for research purposes; (3) Production of embryos from eggs and sperm versus through somatic-cell nuclear transfer. The potential medical benefits that may result from embryonic stem cell research arguably support a continued development in this area. However, some opponents argue that this research offends the (relative or absolute) moral status of an unborn human. Furthermore, the research would probably prove to be a both time-consuming and very expensive method for treating disease. Thus, the questions arise whom the new technique wouldbenefit and at what cost, if ever developed.
哺乳动物胚胎干细胞具有分化为成体个体所有细胞类型的潜力。人类胚胎干细胞的培养使得以前只能在动物模型中进行的研究成为可能。胚胎干细胞是研究自我更新、定向分化、成熟和细胞间相互作用的理想工具。目前，人们普遍希望对胚胎干细胞的研究能带来新的治疗方法；或者通过自身的细胞替代策略，或者通过产生有助于其他研究领域达到临床结果的结果。然而，在胚胎干细胞能够大规模应用于临床试验之前，还有许多挑战需要克服。
干细胞研究是一个在国际上引起广泛争议的领域，涉及科学、法律和政治以及哲学和伦理等多个领域。公众对干细胞研究的争论所表达的伦理态度主要在三个重要区别上存在分歧：（1）生殖性克隆与治疗性克隆；（2）使用已经存在的胚胎与为研究目的制造新的胚胎；（3）从卵子和精子中产生胚胎与通过体细胞核转移产生胚胎。胚胎干细胞研究可能带来的潜在医学益处可以支持这一领域的持续发展。然而，一些反对者认为，这项研究侵犯了未出生人类的（相对或绝对）道德地位。此外，这项研究对于治疗疾病来说可能既耗时又非常昂贵。因此，如果开发出来，新的技术将造福于谁，以及成本如何，这是需要考虑的问题。
