In the hopes of riding the wave of this week’s Executive Order allowing federal research involving embryonic stem cells, Harvard University has announced a new stem cell biology undergraduate major. CBS News reports that the major in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology will have classes on human genetics, aging, human disease, and more.

As the article reports, “the major will allow students “to study biological processes through the lens of developing humans.” Does this mean that students will have access to actual stem cell lines and embryos? It would appear so, based on the press release provided by the College.

Is this morally problematic? It all depends on what students will do with them. Details of the major are scarce, but bioethics courses are not explicitly mentioned as a required part of the major. One can only hope there will be more than a smattering of bioethics in the major–given the nature of the ethical and political debate surrounding this research.

Summer Johnson, PhD