A Pew Forum research package provides an overview of the debate over embryonic stem cell research, exploring public opinion on the issue, religious groups’ views on it, the science behind it and the status of stem cell research in other countries.

Overview: Stem Cell Research at the Crossroads of Religion and Politics

Embryonic stem cell research, which uses special cells found in three- to five-day-old human embryos to seek cures for a host of chronic diseases, has sparked a major moral and political debate in the United States.

The Science Behind Stem Cell Research

For decades, stem cells have attracted the attention of medical researchers and others because they have the capacity to develop into specialized cells that make up a variety of organ and other tissues.

Public Opinion: Support For Health Care Overhaul, But It’s Not 1993

A March 2009 poll report from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds that opinions about stem cell research have been fairly stable in recent years.

Religious Groups’ Official Positions on Stem Cell Research

Where 17 religious groups stand on the issue of stem cell research.

Stem Cell Research Around the World

The U.S. is only one of many countries playing an important role in stem cell research.

Quotes on Stem Cell Research

Quotes on stem cell research from political, religious and other prominent figures.