New Stem Cell Ethics Issue Emerges
Researchers need fresh human eggs and want to buy them. Several laws prohibit payment.
By Karen Kaplan, Times Staff Writer
September 13, 2006

UC San Francisco researcher Renee Reijo Pera has a well-equipped laboratory, generous funding and an ample staff of scientists working to create new lines of embryonic stem cells.She has everything she needs to do cutting-edge work except one thing: fresh human eggs.

While the world debates the morality of stem cell research, scientists are grappling with a more basic issue — a shortage of eggs that they say is crippling their work.

"Without eggs, there's no research," said Dr. Robert Lanza, medical director of the biotechnology company Advanced Cell Technology Inc.Women routinely provide their eggs to fertility clinic patients, who pay $5,000 to $50,000. the rest