Needless to say zombies come quickly to mind...

Rj, Cincinnati, OH, USA

Chris from Bellevue - Being an Athiest is fine as I am agnostic, however you should never attack religeon. Let people believe what they want and do what they want so long as they don't force their beliefs on you or harm others.

Scott, Wildwood,

Humans lose thousands of dead skin cells every day... someone probably has your dandruff on them right now. Are you angry you can't get that back? It's just matter. If we can put it to good use, what's the problem? The human soul is not in a fingernail clipping... but the cure to cancer could be.

Ross Curtis, Shakopee, United States

"Imagine cloning Hitler, Jack the Ripper, Nero, Stalin, Lenin, Ted Bundy, and the list goes on and on."

Bonita. Life is NOT like the movies. A clone of hitler would have his body, but a completely different person. Your DNA doesn't store your memories/personality

Chris, Bellevue, USA

"People who attack religion, are just bitter, lost, angry human beings."

That's very condescending of you. I'm an Atheist, and I sometimes attack religion. However, Atheism has had a positive impact on my life. I have begun to understand my place in this wonderful, mysterious, universe of ours.

Chris, Bellevue, USA

"to create cloned embryonic stem cells"

The living cells that were involved in the production of this article are also an excellent source of experimental medical evidence. Can anyone think of a reason why scientists shouldn't get permission to use them? Seriously, let's hear it.

Kevin, London,

If there were limits on who they could clone and what the cloning is used for I would have no problem. But it is time to think about the side that might harm humanity as a whole. Imagine cloning Hitler, Jack the Ripper, Nero, Stalin, Lenin, Ted Bundy, and the list goes on and on.

Bonita, Bloomington, United States

As for those using this forum to attack someone's religious beliefs, you are showing your own closemindedness. Faith is a personal feeling, based on hope and trust. Anyone who has no faith, has no hope or trust in them. People who attack religion, often are just bitter, lost, angry human beings.

Bonita, Bloomington, United States

If people donated their bodies for medical research, I would think they would have no problem with them being used for.....medical research!

This has nothing to do with God or morality. If you choose not to donate your body for research - fine - you are also free to not benefit from it.

BC, London, UK

can i just say to all americans - what business is this of yours? im so happy im not surrounded by small minded scared individuals like the majority or you all.

apologies to all those who are the exception

Aimee, londo, england

It is not clear the benefits would be from “dead” cells – in umbilical cord blood you have different types of cells including embryonic like cells. UCB is the best source of stem cells without incurring the ethical issues from pure embryonic as they are the purest and most naïve of adult stem cell.

Tracey Graily, Smart Cells International, London, UK

Steph, the issue is that consent isn't needed. Reread the article a bit closer. The scientists are wanting to use tissue without the consent of the donor. That's ANYone, not just those that wanted to be donors.
Those that would trade freedom for security deserve neither & are destined to lose both

-FP, Los Angeles, USA

Sick! Cloning should be stopped.

mary Nicholson, New york U.S.A,

I guess the movie, "Boys from Brazil" and the story line of clonning Adolpf Hitler - was not such an imaginative idea afterall. The possible results are both wonderful and scary.

G Wetzel, Butler PA, USA

Makes me wonder if those who say that this is "Playing God" allow their children to get vaccinations. Or do they use anything that harnesses the power of lighting - For flipping a power switch is in some way attempting to play Zeus, isn't it?

Gene Spears, Nashville, USA

What is this "Universal Law"? And when will humanity stop putting words in Capitals for no reason. Scientists are not evil - they are human beings who often care and do more for humanity and helping people than those who ramble on about superstitions.

Charlie, Munich,

Horrible!

This government of Brown is ever trying to cheat both the British people and his fellow Labour MPs. Bring him down and take him away.

Elizabeth, Edinburgh,

Stealing? They donated their bodies to science.

I hope someday humanity will evolve to realize the lunancy of religion they been worshipping was made up by primitive superstitious idiots, then we can finally develop biotechnology that will cure disease without zealots screaming.

Steph, Texas,

Mankind has always found ways to subvert Universal Law. This example is no different. When will the collective consciousness of humanity learn? What consequences must we all face because of our subconscious trash. The biggest tests of Humanity continue to be Wealth, Fame, Power & True Righteousness.

Nicole, Colorado Springs, USA

I don't understand why Britain and Singapore seem to be the only two governments who are grabbing biotechnology by the horns, while most of the rest of the world is held back by their religious factions and lack of will. i'm jealous. You should be proud, Britain. Lead the way.

Q, Guelph, Canada

Yet again the government knows best. The individual only lives to serve the state. I am not against research but am against taking without permission - isn't it called stealing?

George Tracey, Sompting,

Just another example of the extreme self-centered, selfish, radical scientists. They want to cure themselves of disease, but they have no regard for a fetus that they consider waste. Maybe they should consider themselves waste and forget about curing their own diseases. Why are they worth more?

Jim, Bremerton, USA

"Scientists would also be able to use cells from people who have died since they donated their tissue or who cannot be contacted."

Does this mean that some of the dead people can be contacted?

Gary, Toronto, Canada

Ruth, Please don't start burning the factories and books just yet. I know change can be scary but imagine a world without disease, without suffering, eternal life and colinizing the Heavens. Wow I may even be able to retire several thousand years in the future minus inflation.

Cliff, Anacortes, USA

this is wonderful news! This is what human mankind is all about: Explore and explore.
If we don't we will become extinct.

Countries that put off these researches, usually on moral and religious grounds, will eventually become backwaters.

robert, vancouver, bc

They can't even get simple plant genetic manipulation right without ruining species and causing extreme problems in, and contamination of, nature - and that's only messing with PLANTS.
Some things are NOT meant to be messed with. I hate to break it to you but you scientists will never be smarter than millions of years of evolution. When these people play God they are putting humanity at risk for the trials and errors of their own arrogance.

brad, New York City, USA

People concerned with "cloning" and going against God's wishes really need to read the article one more time, concentrating on comprehension. Cloning tissue cells to make stem cells is an great opportunity to create stem cells without the whole immoral abortion thing. Using stem cells in research will help lead to disgusting amounts of cures for disgusting amounts of things killing us. God granted us with life and gave us the tools to maintain it. Making stem cells out of dead skin isn't a travesty, abomination, ungodly, or immoral. If we truly treasure our lives, we'd take the tools he gave us and do what we can to fully live.

Sara H., Norman, OK, USA

First the abortionists proclaimed only embryonic stem cells "could do the job"... then adult stems cells were found to be as useful...oh no... what is a secular socialist to do? Now even dead people can provide stem cells (much like pre-death organ donating now)... its a beautiful thing....

Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D., Vidalia, La., USA

geeze. calm down everyone. "evil" ? "against god". seriously? says who? it's called progress. medicine and science. YOU can let your "High Priests," Popes and voodoo doctors chant the demons out of you to cure what might be killing you, but I'll take advanced science and medicine thanks

M.M., Los Angeles, USA

I agree. Who will donate to these Jekyll and Hydes who like the Frankensteins are never satisfied. Imagine donating your frozen embryos , which was done here in Madison. Then the patent row began while the money started pouring in from licenses and patents. Power, greed and money!

thomas warner, M.D., madison, USA

Now that Britain went down this road, they don't know where to stop. All in the name of "science." On to monstrosity.

joyce, Manassas, VA

Wish the USA would allow this. We are falling behind the rest of the world in Medical Research. For those that say it goes against god, how do you know this. If he/she wants to speak out that is fine, but you don't have the right to say what he/she thinks.

Tony, Phoenix, USA

The British government is too permisive!

Michael, Albany, Georgia, USA

Well, I daresay we can expect to see tissue donation rates drop dramatically after this.

In the case of deceased parties, isn't there a next-of-kin that can be contacted to give consent?

Sean Francis, Venice, Florida, United States

This goes against everything. These scientists are crazy. This is why they say there is no God, so they can go and do these evil things. This goes against God and Human dignity. I hope this does not happen. I shudder to think what the world will be like with all this cloning going on!!!

Ruth D., Schenectady , USA,

One would hope that there is no viable DNA of Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, or Sadamn Hussein sitting around somewhere....

John M, Brandon, FL, USA

This is not right. Remember the 'Baby Scandle' in Ireland where hospitals kept stored tissue and cells and even the hearts from still born babies, without the consent of parents? To this day these parents are still fighting for justice. 2 long years I fought to get my babies tissue samples back.

Frances, QLD, Australia

If someone donates their body to science thats one thing. do what you want.. However you shouldn't be aloud to take samples of just any dead persons skin tissue...

Dee Dee, youngstown, USA

Another victory for commonsense in disease research. If nothing else the labour government can be credited with putting forth progressive legislation to keep this country at the forefront of medical research, hopefully the next administration will continue down this noble path.

Joseph Rogers, Warwick, UK