I reviewed Stem Cells - The Basics in November.
Australia's parliament has lifted a ban on cloning human embryos for stem cell research.
It clears the way for researchers to engage in therapeutic cloning.
Scientists hope stem cell research will lead to treatments for conditions including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, as well as spinal cord injuries.
Australia's first laws on stem cell research were passed in 2002, allowing scientists to extract stem cells from embryos left over from IVF programmes, but banning cell cloning.
The new legislation will allow therapeutic cloning - the splicing of skin cells with eggs to produce an embryo from which stem cells (capable of forming human tissues) can be taken. The cloned embryos cannot be implanted in a womb and must be destroyed within 14 days.
