In an editorial published July 17, New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Editor Jeffrey M. Drazen pledged to give stem cell research a prominent place in the journal's pages. Although the science of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is still "in its infancy," he wrote, "…we know that this approach to treatment is now possible." Calling federal limitations on stem cell research "shortsighted," Drazen promised that NEJM would go on a quest for "highly meritorious manuscripts that describe research using embryonic stem cells."

An accompanying review article on the "Promethean" promise of this research comes replete with citations from Nature, Science, and Nature Medicine but with few medical journal references.

"We want to encourage people to think of us as stem cell research goes from what has been predominantly basic science to the clinical side," Drazen told The Scientist. "It's on the cusp at this point. We publish a...