Where will scientists get human eggs for SCNT research and cures?
The Missouri Constitution requires that any human eggs used for stem cell research and cures must be voluntarily donated with informed consent, documented in writing. For example, a woman could chose to donate an egg to help cure her child, another family member, a friend or herself. The Initiative strictly bans buying or selling human eggs. These requirements are in keeping with the ethical guidelines for stem cell research recommended by the National Academy of Sciences and adopted by a number of other states and countries. The medical procedures involved in having a woman donate eggs for SCNT are the same as those that have been used for 25 years at fertility clinics. As SCNT research moves ahead, part of the research will focus on learning to use the fewest possible number of donated eggs. Ultimately, SCNT research has the potential to lead to cell reprogramming techniques that won’t even require eggs.
