Although the Catholic church has been opposed to many forms of stem cell research, there are ways to advance the goals of science while respecting the beliefs of Catholics, a UA researcher said in a speech yesterday.

Two dozen people gathered yesterday to see a young Catholic scientist weigh the advantages and disadvantages of stem cell research and cloning.

Although the Catholic church is adamantly opposed to any type of research that destroys life, some types of stem cell research are acceptable and viable within the boundaries of Catholic doctrine, said UA research associate Kameha Kidd, of the Arizona Research Labs.

The presentation, held at the Catholic Newman Center and attended by about 25 people, went into detail about the different techniques used, their religious implications and the challenge the Catholic church faces in balancing concerns.

"The Catholic church embraces using science and technology to prolong and protect our life," Kidd said.

Where the Catholic church argues against research, she said, is when research destroys human life.

The Catholic church says that when a sperm and egg come together, a person has been formed ÷ a topic of interest to many in the crowd.

"The real question is, ÎWhen does life begin?' Biological life begins at conception, but it isn't a viable life until it implants itself in the uterine wall, and thirds never implant," said Thomas Lindell, an molecular and cellular biology associate professor who teaches a bioethics course.

Kidd spent part of the one-and-a half hour presentation focusing on alternatives that the Catholic church condones.

While the church doesn't approve of embryonic stem cells or cloning, it does approve of adult stem cell use, for example.

Furthermore, the church says that if scientists can perfect the use of getting stem cells from umbilical chord blood, scientists may have another alternative to life-destroying processes.

"If we can do these two things, it eliminates the need for embryonic stem cells," she said.

But Kidd said that there are disadvantages to these processes. For example, adult stem cells don't provide researchers the kind of flexibility that embryonic stem cells do, since they are already formed.

When asked if the same rules that apply to humans also apply to animals, Kidd defended research on animals using church doctrine.

"Religious teaching tells us we have autonomy over animals. They aren't the same as humans. They aren't in God's image," she said.

Throughout the presentation, given with PowerPoint slides through a projector in a small classroom, Kidd paid careful attention not to offend anyone and balance all sides of the issue, Lindell said.

"She was very careful. She was tiptoeing along the Catholic doctrine, but she believes it and that's the difference," Lindell said.