Human embryonic stem cellⁱ lines are generated from blastocysts - early human embryos. But what are blastocysts, and when does personhood begin? What justifies research? Doctors, scientists, ethicists, theologians and a patient bring their different points of view, in this thought-provoking exploration of the ethical issues surrounding stem cell research.

This 19-minute film aims to encourage open debate about the ethical issues around stem cell research. It is structured in chapters, each addressing a key ethical question.

Awards and festivals

Further reading

The two review articles below, by Kristina Hug, explore in more depth some of the issues raised in the "Conversations..." film. These articles were written as part of a project and workshop series on ethical and societal issues related to stem cell research for the original EuroStemCell.

• Therapeutic perspectives of human embryonic stem cell research versus the moral status of a human embryo – does one have to be compromised for the other? (PDF file, 393 KB)
  
• Sources of human embryos for stem cell research: ethical problems and their possible solutions (PDF file, 430KB)
  

- This film is only available on DVD -

How was Dolly the sheep made? Are there different kinds of cloning? What are their implications? Scientists, doctors and philosophers address these questions with particular emphasis on the ethics of cloning.