Genetic Research causes a Stir

The possibility of developing stem cells from embryos has triggered a heated public debate. Many politicians, theologians and intellectuals say that research must be controlled by strict legislation, taking account of ethical restraints.

Legislation in Europe

Most scientific discoveries in the field of genetics are made at research institutes of universities. The raw material is usually stem-cells. Stem-cells taken from human embryos are regarded by the scientific community as the key to curing diseases that were so far considered incurable.

Scientists hope these cells will enable them to find cures for epilepsy, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

It only became possible to isolate stem-cells and cultivate them three years ago. At that time an Ethics Commission began its work in the United Kingdom.

In 2001, Britain's House of Lords approved the world's first legislation authorizing stem-cell research.

The bill allows human stem-cells from embryos to be used in research, up to and including the fourteenth day of life. And it allows cloning, which is, the artificial reproduction of stem-cells.

Other nations wanted to follow suit, but have had to struggle to do so. French president Jacques Chirac considered the British model too liberal. He had no intention of allowing French researchers to create life by cloning.

Scientists there were only allowed to work on existing stem cells - for example, those used by doctors for infertility treatment. The French parliament was due to vote on reforming the ethics law in March, but the measure has still not been debated.

Most European Union countries believe they need to change their laws on genetic engineering. Legislation passed in most nations in the 1990s regulated artificial insemination. Now most EU members have installed Ethics Commissions to help develop new legislation regarding genetic research.

Most countries are leaning towards permitting research into stem cells, but only on superfluous embryos. The German law banning all research on human embryos is out of step with all of the rest of Europe except Austria - which has similarly stringent regulations in place.

Up to now, no country has accepted cloning as a method of human reproduction - but some scientists see things differently. Just a few weeks ago, a group of Italian scientists announced they would create the first human clone before the end of this year.

And since most of the world's countries still have not introduced legislation banning cloning, it is likely that the people-makers will be able to go ahead with their plans - in a manner that is completely legal.

Finding a Consensus in Germany

German chancellor Gerhard Schröder has already mapped out the path ahead -- he wants genetic research but he doesn't want it clouded by ideology. But even government ministers do not agree on what should and should not be permitted.

Edelgard Bulmahn is the German Research Minister: "I am convinced there is a broad-based consensus within the community that the huge numbers of egg cells that never get used and are at present destined for destruction, should be used for scientific research. I believe this would be feasible."

Herta Däubler-Gmelin, the German Justice minister, disagrees, though she has recently stopped going public with her opinion. Earlier, she made it clear in newspaper interviews that potential life should enjoy immediate protection by the law. Research using embryonic stem-cells in her opinion, therefore, constitutes a breach of the constitution.

There is no consensus within the government, and the ideological rift goes through the rest of parliament as well. Wolfgang Wodarg is a Social Democratic Member of Parliament: "The parliamentary group of the party is not unanimous on this matter. A passionate debate is being carried out even within party groupings."

Werner Lensing, an MP with the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU-CSU) paints a similar picture: "On behalf of the CDU-CSU parliamentary group, I have to admit that for the moment, given the complexity of the problem, we have not adopted an official line yet."

Only Germany's Green Party has made an official party line on this issue public - a policy paper in which they demand strict rules to protect embryos. "We need to examine to what use the cells are being put," says Andrea Fischer of the Greens Party.

"And we need to go on debating the problems linked to this issue. We can't foresee all the ramifications our actions will bring, or the processes that we might unleash."

Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, has scheduled a debate on the risks and perspectives for genetic engineering at the end of this month. But there is little chance that this will lead to any comprehensive legislation before the next general election in 2002. After all, the debate on this issue is only just getting into its stride.