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Health - Reuters - updated 6:38 PM ET Jul 3 Many Couples Would Donate Embryo Cells to Science NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Nearly half of couples with frozen embryo cells left over from infertility treatment would donate them to medical research, according to the results of a small survey by the American Infertility Association (AIA). What becomes of such pre-embryonic cells is currently at the center of debate among scientists, politicians, religious leaders and patient advocates. Right now, most of these cells are discarded once they are no longer useful to a couple--although a small fraction are donated to other couples. Scientists and patients groups argue that couples should have the option of donating the cells for medical research into embryonic stem cells. Stem cells are master cells that develop into a range of mature body cells. Researchers believe stem cells have the potential to treat common ailments such as diabetes, spinal cord injuries and Parkinson's disease (news - web sites). ``It's a very difficult decision for couples to decide what to do with left-over fertilized eggs,'' Dr. Joann Paley Galst, a psychologist in private practice in New York City and a board member of the AIA, said in an interview with Reuters Health. ``Donating them to medical research is a positive option for people that, in turn, may help many others with disease,'' she added. The survey consisted of an online questionnaire posted on the AIA's Web site. In all, 104 people responded. In a statement, the AIA noted that ``nearly 50% of couples with pre-embryonic cells in cryogenic storage would donate them to research as a first choice, versus the 9% who would prefer to have their extra pre-embryonic cells destroyed.'' A summary of the findings indicates that ``respondents were interested in more information about the type of research pre-embryos would be used for (82%), felt the government should play a role in pre-embryo research (58%), believed that unused pre-embryos should be used to further medical science if this was possible (74%), and would want to designate how their pre-embryos would be used for research (78%).'' http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010703/hl/embryo_donate_1.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn