Some interesting articles from the past week:

• Missouri: A ballot proposal promoting embryonic stem cell research is turning conservatives against one another and threatening to tear apart the state Republican Party. The measure — sponsored by a coalition of medical groups, researchers, businesses and advocates for patients — would make Missouri the only state besides California to include the right to stem cell research in its state constitution: NY Times.
• Other Stem Cell news: Korean researcher Woo Suk Hwang admitted in criminal court last week that he forged data to make his work on human stem cells look more credible: Science.
• Scientists with Iranian passports may be barred from working or studying abroad as part of proposed United Nations sanctions: Science.
• Nearly 40 percent of the scientists conducting hands-on research at the US National Institutes of Health say they are considering looking for other work in order to escape new ethics rules that have curtailed their opportunity to earn outside income through consultancy positions.: Washington Post.
• UK Couples are to be offered free fertility treatment in return for donating sperm: Bioethics Blog.
• In the Sunday Times, the foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, has called for a public debate on whether the country still needs Trident missiles.
• A number of other issues surrounding the potential renewal of the Trident missile system, are discussed on the British American Security Information Council website.