SciDev.Net

Brazil will set up a centre for stem cell research, and researchers have said they can make stem cells from a source less controversial than embryos.

Brazil has voted by a narrow margin to uphold legislation for research on embryonic stem cells.

A round-up of news from or about South Asia for the period 1–15 March 2008.

The Brazilian Federal Supreme Tribunal has postponed the decision on whether embryonic stem cells can be used in research.

Regional collaboration will be key to Asian plans to dominate stem-cell research and cloning technology, a conference in Thailand has heard.

The United Nations member states have voted in favour of a non-binding declaration calling for a total ban on all forms of human cloning.

A divided UN committee has approved a recommendation that governments should consider banning all forms of human cloning.

The Muslim world's first proposed code of medical and health ethics would approve human cloning for therapeutic but not reproductive purposes.

Moves to ban human cloning worldwide have stalled as the UN drops plans for an international treaty covering the practice.

Disagreements between nations about reproductive and therapeutic cloning have led the UN to defer a vote on a total cloning ban once again.

After controversies and delays, Brazil's Senate has approved a broad bill that includes legislation covering human cloning and GM crops.

As Brazil delays creating a 'biosafety' law covering human cloning and GM crops, defiant farmers say they will sow GM seeds regardless of the legal outcome.

Arab countries are discussing a regional ban on human cloning for both reproductive and 'therapeutic' purposes.

Panama has become the only country in Central America to pass a law permitting cloning for health research purposes.

Scientists are protesting about draft legislation approved by Brazil's Chamber of Deputies to regulate both GM crops and human cloning.

The Costa Rican government is stepping up its global campaign to ban all forms of human cloning.

The Chinese government has formalised its approval of 'therapeutic human cloning' for research purposes.

Mexico's leading scientific organisations are protesting the decision of the country’s parliament to ban human cloning for research purposes.

The United Nations has agreed to put off a decision on a global ban on human cloning for one year – but not two, as had been suggested .

Although a UN committee has proposed a two-year delay on a treaty to ban human cloning, the organisation's General Assembly may reject the proposal next week.