Snuppy was created by a South Korean researcher

Higher education institution UHI Millennium Institute will host a public lecture on 14 June at its office in Ness Walk, Inverness.

The schools event will take place at Inverness College on 15 June.

Scientists believe some diseases could be treated through stem cell therapy. A South Korean stem cell researcher also cloned a dog, called Snuppy.

Three experts in the subject hope to encourage a debate at next week's public lecture.

The speakers are Dr Matt Dalby from the Centre of Cell Engineering at the University of Glasgow, Professor Graeme Laurie at the School of Law and Dr Neville Cobbe of the Centre of Cell Biology, both at the University of Edinburgh.

They will ask how people feel about embryos being used in research.

The lecture is being held at the UHI executive office in Ness Walk, Inverness. Doors open at 1800 BST.

It has been organised in partnership with educational charity The Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Provoked controversy

The schools event at Inverness College will be chaired by Professor Mary Bownes of the Scottish Initiative for Biotechnology Education.

Pupils from Inverness Royal Academy, Fortrose Academy, Lochaber High School, Portree High School, Ullapool High School, Invergordon Academy, Gordonstoun School and Lossiemouth High School will take part.

Stem cell research has provoked controversy worldwide.

The cells are thought to hold huge potential for treating a range of diseases and disabilities. Scientists around the world are working on techniques to refine stem cell therapy.

Most adult cells in the body have a particular purpose which cannot be changed.

A neural cell which can make all the cell types of a nervous system

For instance, a liver cell is developed to perform specific functions and cannot be transformed to suddenly take on the role of a heart cell.

Stem cells are different. They are still at an early stage of development and retain the potential to turn into many different types of cell.

Among the conditions which scientists believe may eventually be treated by stem cell therapy are Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, diabetes, burns and spinal cord damage.

South Korean stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk was fired from his professorship at Seoul National University in March following allegations he faked some of his research.