The problem I have with the ethical issue is who decides? In other words why should one person or group of people impose their ethics on society.

I recognize that a society must have certain rules in order to maintain it's cohesion but many questions of ethics come down to the individual.

The ethics of stem cell research, IMO, fall into the category of personal choice because neither by using them for research nor discarding surplus embryos has a deletrious effect on society, in the biological sense.

As Don has pointed out some knowledge of embryology is required to make an informed choice on the issue and overcome the emotionality connected with using loaded words.

If a researcher believes in the morality of his research then he should be permitted to pursue it and conversely if one feels it wrong then he should also have the right not to pursue it but not to impose his position on others.

The same goes for anyone who may benefit from this science.