Japan: Ministry to widen ban on stem cell research

January 31, 2008

In a pre-emptive move to avert a debate over ethics, the education ministry will temporarily ban research to produce reproductive cells from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, sources said.

The ministry is expected to make a formal decision when it convenes its Bioethics and Biosafety Commission under the Council for Science and Technology on Friday. (asahi.com)