Embryonic stem (ES) cells are one type of pluripotent cell made from fertilized eggs. They have the ability to differentiate into all kinds of tissue and can be grown almost indefinitely outside the body. For this reason they have attracted much attention for application in regenerative medicine. In addition, various manipulations to genes are possible because of their high proliferative capacity. In March 2008, the Council for Science and Technology Policy settled plans to call for the government to significantly relax regulations regarding ES cell research, such as by simplifying screening procedures.