Hey, I am a molecular biologist who did his final paper on therapeutic and reproductive cloning. Maybe I can help? ” title=”Razz” />

The Catechism does not include sections on cloning and stem-cell research because at the time it was written (1982, I believe), those technologies were in their infancy. They were not of great importance to address at the time and their morality was likely not discussed and settled in detail.

Most stem-cell research is carried out on embryonic stem cells. These cells are harvested from unborn children, killing them in the process. Some stem cells remain when we are adults and such strains can be grown for study without killing. However, scientists believe that adult stem cells are not totipotent (they cannot develop into any type of cell) but pluripotent (they can develop into many, but not all, types of cells). So, they want to conduct their research with embryonic stem cells.