Abstract
We haven't heard much about stem cells lately. Why? The ethical use of human stem cells sparked an intense debate nearly 20 years ago. Since life and death were on the table, it's no surprise that loud opinions and strong passions raged. The fires of controversy even reached the highest political office when, in 2001, pro-life President Bush restricted the use of federal funds for human embryonic stem cell research. Since then, the controversy has cooled and almost subsided. But not for the reasons you might expect.