Hwang Woo-suk, the infamous and disgraced South Korean stem cell researcher, who had been accused of using unethical means to conduct his research and also gave false results, has been sentenced to two years in prison by The Seoul Central District Court. However, the court showed leniency towards the scientist and has agreed to revoke the punishment, provided Hwang can stay out of trouble for the next three years.

Hwang had known to be the one of the most revered scientists in the entire South Korea for his groundbreaking work in the field of stem cell research. Hwang and his team gained the world’s undivided attention in the year 2004, when they announced the successful cloning of a human embryo.

During his term as one of the leading scientists in the stem cell research, the South Korean government had spared no expense in treating the Hwang as a celebrity. The administration had even labeled him as a “national treasure”. He was provided with all the research funding he required and the Korean national airlines, gave Hwang and his family free 1st class travel arrangements. He was even assigned a personal security detail, along with a full time diplomat liaison, for Hwang’s international dealings.

However, Hwang’s glorious career came to a sudden stop, when the university that he was working for, conducted an investigation and found out that, the research paper released by Hwang and his team on stem cell research had been fabricated and was based entirely on false data conjured by Hwang.

Via Associated Press.

Scientists in Newcastle have claimed to be the first to create human sperm artificially in the laboratory. It could help infertile men and women who do not like to get married have babies. The implications can be far and wide and would upset the traditional family values that religions try to preach like there is no tomorrow. This would allow millions of Gay and Lesbian people to have children. Of course, only if there is an egg donor can this be a possibility.

The sperm cells make use of Stem cell science and many human embryos were donated for the research. Now, there have been many people who are coming in way of development, as usual. The opposition consists of self styled family value upholders, religious lobbies and traditionalists who do not like to move ahead and empathize with childless couples and LGBT parents.

Though this may not exactly be a solution in the near future, such research would go a long way in helping the humanity to stop depending on traditional medicine and expensive fertility treatments whose efficacy is not exactly worthy of discussion. You could read more about the research on BBC.

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Obama has recently lifted Bush’s veto on the use of funds for embryonic stem cell research. He signed an executive order at a ceremony in the White House to lift the particular veto of his predecessor. In August 2001 Bush signed an executive order prohibiting the use of federal funds for research on embryonic stem cells, with the exception on some studies for existing strains. With this reversal order, Obama has taken yet another step in dismantling the legacy of his predecessor.

During his presidential campaign, Obama promised to lift the ban which in Obama’s opinion was a measure that handcuffed US scientists and affected the country’s ability to compete with other countries. The then Republican opponent in the election, Senator John McCain, had also promised to lift the ban.

In just over 40 days in office, Obama has ordered the closure of the Guantanamo prison within one year, set a fixed schedule on troop withdrawal from Iraq, campaigned for more international troops to battle in Afghanistan, and lifted the veto on public financing of overseas operations of humanitarian organizations that do not prejudice against abortion.

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Via The New York Times/BBC

George W. Bush commenced human embryo stem cell research in 2001, but he also mandated strict limits on federal funding of such a research to lessen the destruction of embryos, the focal point of the ethical opposition to the research. Bush had stated that any research leading to the destruction of embryos is immoral. Complete halt on federal funding was ordered by the US Congress in 1994. However, a president’s executive authority can transcend congressional action.

In 2007, a breakthrough was struck. Scientists discovered that human skin cells can be turned into an “embryonic state” that can grow into nerve, heart, or other human cells. This milestone means that embryos need not be destroyed in the course of the research. It also implies that the ethical concern can be a thing of the past. President-elect Barack Obama, having long been a supporter of stem cell research, can pull all plugs that have slowed down stem cell research in the past.

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Via Live Science