Current ethical problems in cell biology

Abstract

We selected important ethical conflicts of interest in current cell biology and which remain still unresolved: the use of human biological material, patents for biological material, cloning and use of stem cells, genetic engineering, onset of human life and death, and the use of vertebrate biomodels. New data from cell and molecular biology cannot facilitate the solution of such problems - on the contrary, they make these solutions more difficult. A solution may be found within the socio-cultural problems. Intensive research is necessary both to accomplish economical and medical benefit and to clarify ethical rules. Thus, essential cell biology seems to be the important part of education for non-life sciences students and students of biology and medicine would touch the social and ethical implications of recent biotechnologies in each knowledge-based economy.