Legislature Legalizes Stem Cell Research

Brazilian legislators voted to legalize stem cell research using leftover, frozen embryos in the hope of one day finding treatments for ailments such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries.

The bill would allow research with embryos from in vitro fertilization that have been frozen at least three years.

The legislation now goes to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is expected to sign it into law.

Brazilian legislators upheld a ban on the cloning of embryonic stem cells for therapeutic use, as well as cloning to produce babies.