Sharia Law on Stem Cell Research

There have been lots of debate arise from stem cell research activity, simply because one of the techniques utilize the creation and usage of human embryonic stem cells. It is controversial bcos people regard embryo as human, and the argument is, it is inhuman to 'play' with this kind of cell. (embryo is the early stage of human development in the uterus-few weeks old after fertilization)

For those who are not in life science, you may read the para below; a quoted brief introduction about stem cell from Wikipedia.

Stem cells are cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types but also retain the ability to renew themselves through cell division. They were first identified in embryos.
read more about stem cell research controversy here in Wikipedia

But, what is Islamic view on this? Based on Sharia law it is permitted, or scientifically it is ethical.
I quote paragraphs below from Wired Science, full article here

But asked about Dubai's regulatory environment, he enthusiastically mentioned that Islamic law -- Sharia law, to be precise, but that word has such fundamentalist connotations in the west that I'm reluctant to use it -- was actually more open than the United States to certain types of research, particularly embryonic stem cell research.
"The definition of human being in Catholic is from the day of conception -- whereas in Islamic law, a fetus is considered human after four months of pregnancy," he said. "Under Sharia law, any research that has human benefit is supported. There is no boundary for that."
Historically, said Al Khayat, Islamic science flourished between the 14th and 16th centuries; that Dubai could be a home for cutting-edge life science research in the 21st century was simply part of the grand cycle of history, the rise and fall and rise again of the East.

Let us pray and work hard for the 'rise again' in the East. Amin.