Falling behind???

I came across this image from a publication from MIT (.pdf file) It's fairly interesting how the country's policy on stem cells is in part related to its geographic location.

Countries (white) with no policy or stem cell research is prohibited (red) are mostly eastern european (except Russia). The yellow countries are like the United States policy of "no new stem cell lines are allowed". Most of the countries (purple) are one step above the United States in that stem cell work is allowed, but prohibits nuclear transfer. Only three countries (dark green) allows for nuclear transfer and in vitro work with the transfered cells.

I think that the policy of prohibiting nuclear transfer would be an acceptable compromise for stem cell work. It's what most of our european counterparts allow, and would ban human cloning. I can only hope that most people understand the concept that fertlized eggs is NOT human life, and with a majority of the eggs (technially blastocyst) are disposed of. One can only hope it's a matter of time....

Yet, it's slightly comforting to know that most europeans do not approve of nuclear transfers. While I'm in favor of nuclear transfer on the principle that even a nuclear transfer has a very remote chance of becoming a human clone (consider teleomeres), I know it'll be more popular in europe before it'll be considered in this country.