Ethics experts and pro-lifers believe Australia's conservative prime minister was badly advised when he gave the go-ahead for embryonic stem cell research and approved an injection of funding for the controversial work.

They also believe Prime Minister John Howard faced pressure from bio-researchers who warned they would take their expertise abroad if the funding was not available at home.

The campaigners are appalled that Howard did not earmark the funding for research involving "adult" stem cells, which are cells from sources such as umbilical cords or bone marrow. Treatments involving adult stem cells already have claimed a number of successes worldwide in treating various disorders.

Howard last week announced the allocation of 43.5 million Australian dollars ($24.6 million) to a new Melbourne-based center for research on the "potential application of both adult and embryonic stem cells" in the treatment of diseases.

The Centre for Stem Cells and Tissue Repair is headed by Prof. Alan Trounson, a top scientist who supports research using embryos, including embryos cloned in a lab. Embryos are destroyed in the process of harvesting them for stem cells.

Howard's decision was the second blow to Australian pro-lifers who had previously been encouraged by his stance on life issues.

It came in the wake of his announcement in early April -- following intensive lobbying by interested parties on either side of the debate that he would allow research on embryos already created during in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, which were not wanted by their parents. Until then he was believed to have favored a complete ban.

Legislation on the matter will be put to federal lawmakers in the weeks ahead, and both major parties have promised members a conscience vote on the issue.

Dr. Amin Abboud, a lecturer in medical ethics at the University of New South Wales, said he found Howard's decision to fund embryonic stem cell research premature, given the fact the ethical questions were far from resolved in his own party and others.

"It would have been more appropriate to defer the decision till parliament had resolved it," he said. "It does make a conscience vote seem futile if you don't await the result of that vote -- it presumes you know the consciences of people."

Abboud, who is also the coordinator of a bioethical group for doctors and lawyers, said the prime minister -- who in other issues had been "principled" -- appeared to have received poor advice on this matter.

Despite his own stated opposition to cloning of embryos for their stem cells, a process which proponents call "therapeutic" and opponents call "destructive," Howard was in fact opening the door to "cloning in all its forms."

"Trounson and others have no objection to therapeutic cloning," Abboud noted, adding that Howard was not aware of the ramifications of his actions.

He cited a 2001 article by Howard's recently-appointed scientific policy adviser, in which he questions whether cloning should be seen as any more serious than "having sex."

In Abboud's view, many politicians were ignorant of the issues surrounding research involving embryos.

"I don't want to sound alarmist but those pushing this research are for cloning in some form. They are opening the way to a slippery slope towards human cloning and the creation of human embryo farms."

Abboud also thought politicians were largely ignorant of the advances in work involving adult stem cells, which was where he argued the money should go.

"Education is the only way [to win the battle]," he said. "Ethics is fundamentally about the dignity with which we treat the human person at all stages of their life - human dignity that in society we discuss a lot, but is just as easily overlook."

Morally disastrous
The Christian ethical action group Saltshakers also believes the government funding should have gone into adult stem cell research.

Research director Jenny Stokes said organizations like a Melbourne cancer hospital that is using adult stem cells to treat breast cancer should be getting funding.

She also questioned the timing of the funding announcement, which she said pre-empted any vote by lawmakers "as to whether the people of Australia want to proceed down this morally disastrous path."

Stokes attributed Howard's apparent turnabout to pressure from scientists who "lobbied extremely hard" and threats by state premiers to "go it alone" if the federal government banned the research.

Christians and others are being urged to "stand up and let their politicians know that they do not agree with embryonic stem cell research," she said.

The Australian Family Association is also preparing a major campaign in this regard.

In recent news on adult stem cell advances, Duke University Medical Center said in a statement May 31 researchers had transformed adult stem cells taken from fat, into cells that appear to be nerve cells.

"Although it is unclear at this point whether or not the new cells will function like native nerve cells, the researchers are optimistic that if future experiments are as successful as the ones to date, these new cells have the potential to treat central nervous system diseases and disorders," it said.

It's already known that stem cells from bone marrow can transform into neuronal cells, but the new work points to the possibility of a limitless supply - human fat.