How exactly does human life develop after fertilisation? How can reproductive medicine achieve better results with fewer side effects? How can stem cell lines be used to treat common conditions like diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart attack and stroke? Scientists working in Germany have only been able to contribute very little to help answer such questions. This is because research of this kind on early human embryos is prohibited in Germany under the Embryo Protection Act (ESchG). In their joint Statement "Re-evaluating the protection of in vitro embryos in Germany" the Leopoldina and the Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities recommend the permission of embryo research for high-priority scientific objectives in accordance with international ethical standards and a rediscussion of the legal framework required for this purpose.