LAHORE (Wednesday, March 18): Punjab University Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB) will organize a workshop on “Ethical Issues Related to Work on Stem Cells” tomorrow (Friday, March 20) at 3:00pm at the Centre.

The eminent molecular biologists, gynecologists/embryologists and religious scholars will attend the workshop to debate the issue in a frank, informal and candid manner.

Dr Israr Ahmad, Founder Tanzeem-e-Islami, Quran Academy Lahore, will deliver a lecture on “When Life Begins-Islamic Perspective?”

The workshop will also focus specifically on the following issues:

1. When does life begin (is it at the stage fertilization, insulation or birth of the baby)?

2. Is killing a five day fertilized egg considered as killing new life? If so, does this killing of new life justifiable to save lives of people already exist on this planet?

3. Ethical issues in connection with obtaining biological materials for stem cell research.

It is mentioned worthy that the workshop would be telecasted through video conference system at Karachi University , Peshawar University , Balochistan University , COMSTECH, HEC and other places.