A heart beats for the first time. With billions of people in the world, this miracle is not uncommon. However, this heart is different — it is not a chest cavity that holds the life-providing muscle, but a petri dish. Stem cells taken from a human embryo have provided the material to grow the heart and allowed it to beat without a human host.

Raising its share of recent controversy, stem-cell research has been an issue at the front of political debate since its emergence into the public. The issue has been termed a spin-off battle in the abortion war; the research has been backed by pro-choice advocates but not as popular with pro-life groups.

Last year, a decision allowing stem cells to be used for research passed in the Senate. The policy, announced by President Bush in August 2001, limited federal funding of stem cells that already existed, which are derived from adult sources or from excess embryos from fertility clinics.

With the recent power shift to a Republican majority in both houses, many stakeholders are wondering whether current research will continue to be federally supported.

Stem cells were first isolated in Madison in 1998 by University of Wisconsin professor and researcher James Thomson.

He extracted cells from the inside lining of an early human embryo that had the capacity to grow and differentiate into specific human organs. The potential uses of these cells range from disease and genetic defect research to tissue regeneration. People with degenerative disease could benefit from this technology, which may someday allow them to receive lifesaving organs and tissues.

UW professor R. Alta Charo spoke at Wednesday’s meeting of the Dane County Democrat meeting in support of stem-cell research. “[Stem-cell research] is a genuine revolution in medicine,” said Charo. “We need to keep research going state by state.”

However, not everyone is in favor of this new biological advance.

The involvement of human life proves to be a delicate issue, and many Republican groups have not extended their support as readily as their Democratic counterparts. However, stem-cell research is multifaceted, leaving pro-choice Republicans on the fence.

With the recent change in Washington, there exists an overriding uncertainty as to what will happen concerning the current research.

Republican legislative aide James Erickson said it remains unclear how the debate will play out.

“It’s hard to tell — the issue of stem-cell research isn’t always split down party lines,” he said.

Pro-life Action League member and UW junior Anthony Carver agrees and said he thinks little change will result from continued Congressional debate.

“I think the (cloning) legislation will stay the same as last year’s decision.”

Ethical issues will surround stem-cell research unless the human element is removed.

“The goal will be to get rid of the eggs and embryos and focus on the scientific processes,” Charo said. “Continued research is the key to advances.”