Stem Cell Research Report, 2002

source:  The Lords, UK Parliament


CONTENTS

REPORT

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background
The Regulations
The establishment of the Committee and the scope of its remit
Evidence
Specialist advisers

CHAPTER 2: STEM CELLS

What are stem cells?
Box 1: Differentiation
Box 2: The potential of stem cells
The potential of stem cells for developing new therapies
The research path to therapeutic application
Box 3: Increased plasticity of adult stem cells
Immunological rejection of stem cell-based therapies

CHAPTER 3: POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF ES CELLS AND ADULT STEM CELLS

ES cells
Potential advantages
Possible limitations
Adult stem cells
Potential advantages
Possible limitations
Do developments on adult stem cells make research on ES cells unnecessary?
Conclusions

CHAPTER 4: the status of the EARLY embryo

The development of the embryo
The status of the early embryo
The Warnock Committee's view
Should the early embryo be treated as a person?
The views of the faiths
The current legal and social context
The Committee's conclusion
The fourteen days limit
What does respect for the early embryo mean in practice?
The creation of embryos for research

CHAPTER 5: CELL NUCLEAR REPLACEMENT AND CLONING

The additional purposes in the Regulations
Cell nuclear replacement
Oocyte nucleus transfer
"Reproductive cloning"

CHAPTER 6: COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN STEM CELL RESEARCH

CHAPTER 7: THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

International instruments: the concept of human dignity
National differences
The scope for international regulation
An international ban on reproductive cloning?
Conclusion

CHAPTER 8: LEGISLATION AND REGULATION

The existing regulatory regime
Review of outcomes of research undertaken under the 1990 Act
The drafting of the Regulations
"Serious disease"
Application of the new purposes to basic research
Future legislation
Informed consent
Custody and regulation of stem cell lines
Informed consent

SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Appendix 1: Membership

Appendix 2: Call for Evidence

Appendix 3: Organisations and individuals who gave evidence

Appendix 4: The moral status of the early embryo: reading the Christian tradition

Appendix 5: Glossary of biological terms used in the Report

Appendix 6: Reproductive Cloning