As I said several posts up, I am torn on this issue. I am presenting the questions, exactly so I can see responses such as yours, Jeri. My problem is that I don't know the answer. I am struggling with whether this fertilized embryo, with all the ingredients in place and in the natural cycle of birth to death, constitutes a human being. If so, this raises the ethical question of whether it is proper to create the life for the purpose of harvesting cells which will destroy it, in order to save other lives. And I can't help but then extend that thinking and ask if that doesn't raise the spectre, or lead to, farming of bodies for medical purposes.

I don't want to give the wrong impression here. I think that the technology holds great promise. I think I support developing this technology. But I have this nagging doubt in the back of my mind. There is a part of me that wants the ethicists to work overtime on this one, because I believe the long term implications, especially as the technology advances, could have huge impact.

It isn't a religious issue for me, except as that is where my moral and ethical base is. But I believe the same concerns should exist for anyone leading an ethics based life, whether it is rooted in religious belief or just a desire to lead an ethical life.

Mick