81.   Sanberg said his research suggests that umbilical cords could be an excellent source of stem cells without the ethical headaches of fetal tissue.

82.   Several reports to the Society for Neuroscience seem to offer yet more possible solutions to the ethical dilemma blocking stem cell studies which use human fetal tissue.

83.   That could get around the short supply of fetal tissue now used in human experiments, he said.

84.   The committee of advisors also recommended a strict process of informed consent requiring that donors of fetal tissue or embryos be told about the potential use of the specimens.

85.   They have been harvested previously from bone marrow, brain and fetal tissue.

86.   Under federal law, it is legal to use fetal tissue for research as long as it is donated, not sold, by the woman.

87.   The panel said researchers should be allowed to use fetal tissues to study development of the embryo, in-vitro fertilization and other methods to improve successful pregnancies.

88.   It is likely to trigger protests from anti-abortion groups which oppose the use of fetal tissue for fear it will spur more abortions.