Navigating Bioethical Waters: The ethical landscape behind stem cell research

ABSTRACT Human cloning can be defined as the creation of a ‘genetically identical copy of a previously existing human,’ or the reproduction of cloned cells /tissue from that individual. Through human cloning, we can gain stem cells from the cloned blastocyst and treat these cells to differentiate into any cells we need for medical purposes. However, this understandably has ethical implications which have made it difficult for scientists to carry out lots of stem cell research. This article focuses on the more complex ethical standpoints around stem cell research through some forms of therapeutic cloning, using SCNT (Somatic cell nuclear transfer) and iPSCs (Induced pluripotent stem cells).