[xoxoxoBruce]

The federal ruling under Bush, was they could only use preexisting embryonic stem cell lines, no new ones could be added. Obama eased up on that restriction, but two researchers that were working on adult stem cell research, and feared they would get less funding if the embryonic research expanded, filed suit on the grounds it offended their religious tenets.

When a couple have to use invitro fertilization, they harvest several eggs and attempt to fertilize them all. They then choose one or more that look viable, and implant it/them back in the womb. In octomoms case, they implanted all eight.

The left over eggs are trashed, because of the federal ruling against new lines. The law requires the couple's permission to use the eggs for research, or anything but disposal, but the fundamentalists are still bitching the lab/hospital might steal somebody's unused eggs.