George Bush is apparently not the only leader in the West who is unwilling to kill human beings in their embryonic state for research. Recall that the term ’embryo’ refers to a stage in the life cycle of mammals, it does not define the species or form of life. The term ’embryo’ can only be applied to an organism – no cells, tissues or organs have embryonic stages. Their precursor state is the stem cell itself. Anyway, it seems the EU is willing to fund Embryonic Stem Cell research, but only if no embryos are killed in the process:

European Union ministers agreed on Monday to permit limited use of EU funds for research involving human embryonic stem cells provided it does not entail destroying embryos.

The compromise came just days after President George W. Bush vetoed an expansion of such work in the United States in a move that won praise from churches and anti-abortion campaigners.

Germany had led a coalition of eight countries that sought to bar any European public funding for human stem-cell research.

Time is rapidly coming where the courts will be forced to declare an embryo a unique human individual and consider how to deal with that situation. Science is unambiguous and clear on this. Human embryos are human as can be clearly determined by testing their DNA. Also, human embryos are unique individuals from their parents, as can be clearly shown by DNA tests with their parents.

And with DNA it is not even close. While syblings and cousins can have genetic similiarities, the DNA between parents and children are strikenly different. That is because the parents give half their genes to their offspring. So the differences are stark with 50% of the child’s genes NOT associated with a given parent. These are the very same tests used today to clear or convict people in courtrooms across this country. The precedent is established and the results are a foregone conclusion. Test an embryo’s DNA and the results will clearly indicate the embryo is a unique individual from the mother. And when that is the finding in a court of law (which must follow the absoluteness of the science) the entire issue of embryonic stem cells (as well as abortion, though that is a different matter) will be thrown up in the air. Time someone started that case through the courts.