FF role criticised as EU votes for research using human embryos

THE European Parliament has voted to fund stem cell research using human embryos, although the ban on such research in Ireland will remain.

A compromise allowing funding for research only using frozen embryos created before 2003 was narrowly defeated.

Stem cells are used to create new tissue that could be used to treat illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. These building-block cells can be extracted from adult cells, blood from the umbilical cord and from embryos.