Stem Cells, Embryos and Cloning—Unravelling the Ethics of a Knotty Debate

Abstract

The cloning of Dolly the sheep from somatic cells in 1996, the isolation of human embryonic stem cells in 1998, and the publication of the first drafts of the human genome in 2000 represent frontiers of remarkable new realms into which the biosciences are seeking to go. Each has been heralded by promises of untold benefits to be found in the new lands. Alongside the frequent rhetoric of progress and conquest, however, have also come many expressions of concern that some of the country ahead presents difficult ethical and social problems, which require treading carefully and some regions that should simply be left alone. Dolly in particular has become an icon, epitomising the ambivalence of biotechnology—its promise and the dilemmas it poses. The photograph of her surrounded by a flock of paparazzi at the Roslin Institute outside Edinburgh also highlights that these frontiers have been reached in an era of instant global communications. There is unprecedented media interest and thus also great public awareness of these developments. No longer can biotechnology do its work in isolation and present its results to society for an assumed approval. The near universal reaction against human cloning and the current European controversy over embryonic stem cells together highlight the fact that these are developments that call for a new type of contract between science and society. To determine the directions and priorities of such far reaching areas of the biosciences, a dialogue needs to be established with civil society. It is not sufficient to invite only the “usual partners” to the table—researchers, industrial companies, government funding agencies, patent lawyers and regulators. Increasingly, ordinary citizens are wanting to have more say in what applications should go ahead, whether there are some areas to hold back from for the time being, some to forbid altogether, and where the research itself is going. The European Commission’s recent conference “Stem Cells—Therapies for the Future” was an example, in that a two day conference had not only state of the art scientific presentations, but also substantial sessions set aside for ethical issues and for participative public discussion. This paper was presented at a similar symposium, organised at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg in June 2001. It explores the ethical issues raised first by reproductive cloning and then by human stem cell research. The Society Religion and Technology Project of the Church of Scotland has been in the forefront of ethical debate on cloning and stem cells since 1996. – 8 It has been in ongoing dialogue with the Roslin scientists since 1994 and also with the wider research community, Government, European and regulatory bodies. It has also sought to promote public discussion through talks and debates, drama, and the media. The paper also draws from the work of the bioethics working group of the Conference of European Churches, of which the author is also a member. This group brings together specialists in biotechnological, medical, legal, ethical and theological fields from Protestant and Orthodox churches in several European countries, and has published two reports on these issues.