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Less than two years ago (November, 1998), the first reports of the isolation and robust in vitro growth of human embryonic stem cells and human germ cells were published. The potential for these cells to palliate or cure a wide variety of degenerative and acute diseases has precipitated much excitement in the scientific community, and huge hopes for people suffering from these diseases. Because the source of these cells may need to be human embryos, the excitement has been tempered by the beliefs of many Americans that hold the embryo absolutely sacred. The argument has thus far been framed as a tradeoff between ethical principles and potential health gains. There has been little balanced assessment of the real practical potential of these cells, including the possible use of these cells to understand normal early human development. These issues must be considered if robust policies are to be crafted.
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