Abstract

Human Embryonic stem cell research was replete with controversies involving the origin of these cells and the moral status of the embryo. The emergence of Induced Pluripotent stem cells was heralded by many as the solution to the controversy. It was believed by proponents of Induced Pluripotent Stem cell research that finally the fruits of the technology could be cherished without the dilemma of research involving human embryos. However, Induced Pluripotent stem cells are not the quick fix solution to the ethical issues of Human Embryonic Stem cells research as was made out to be. They come with their own ethical implications and the most glaring of them is the downstream applications of these cells. Regulations need to be formulated with these downstream applications in mind. The problem to define the moral status of IPS cells will become unavoidable as will research involving zygotes and embryos. Urgent international regulation is required for harmonization and proper advancement of the field.