Germany allows more stem-cell use

German lawmakers voted Friday to ease restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research.

A compromise measure passed by a majority of Germany's lower house of parliament increases the number of stem-cell lines available to scientists from 40 to 400, Deutsche Welle reported.

Scientists said the old restrictions prevented German researchers from participating in international projects using stem-cell lines created after 2002. The new law changes the cutoff date to May 1, 2007, for the import of stem-cell lines.

The newspaper said the debate over the ethics of stem-cell research in Germany has been colored by memories of Nazi genetic experiments linked to the attempt to create a master race.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International