Embryo adoption is in the news today, from a couple of different angles.

First, this on a study from Duke University and Johns Hopkins to be published in the July 6 issue of "Science" saying that sixty percent of over 1,000 infertility patients with frozen embryos are willing to donate those unused to stem cell research.

“Until now, the debate about federal funding for embryonic stem cell research has been dominated by lawmakers and advocates. But what about the preferences of infertility patients, who are ethically responsible for, and have legal authority over, these embryos?” demanded study co-author Ruth Faden, director of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics.

“These patients face the often morally difficult task of deciding what to do with their remaining cryopreserved embryos. In the end, it is these people who determine whether embryos are available for adoption or for medical research,” she added.

Between 3,900 to 5,900 frozen embryos are what they're talking here.

Only 22% of couples expressed willingness to donate their embryos to other couples for adoption. This, I find surprising, and more than a little sad. I would have thought couples dealing with infertility would be more likely to lean toward other families in the same circumstance, rather than away from.

This is a look at one result for what some call 'leftover embryos' ... 17-month-old twins born to a couple who adopted their embryos and believe:

"They were orphans in a different sense of the word," Nicole, 35, told Baptist Press. "Embryos are not just cells. They're little people.

According to the report, the adoption process was fast and smooth. Within a few months, a homestudy was completed and the couple was asked to chose from twelve groups of embryos. The group they chose had eight, three of which were implanted. Two survived and were born in January of 2006.

There's no mention of what happened to the other five.

Smokers in Britain will no longer be allowed to foster children under the age of five.

The Fostering Network, which oversees the UK's 42,000 foster homes, is changing its advice to local authorities. Some are, however, worried that the ban will contribute to a shortage of carers which is presently estimated to be around 10,000.

Smokers are already prevented from adopting children under five.

Some numbers: 61,000 children in care in Britain with 50,000 in foster families; one-fifth are under the age of 4; two-thirds are in care because of neglect or abuse in their biological families ... that's more than 40,000 kids; one-fourth of the population in Britain smokes.

For a closer look at the British foster care system, and as it relates to children from ethnic minorities, click here.

And in conclusion here's a story I immediately sent out to all my siblings ...

From the NY Times, the results of a study that says that the eldest child in a family tends to develop a higher I.Q. than their younger brothers and sisters.

Ah ha! I knew it!

(For the record, I'm not getting total agreement on this, but that's to be expected. My brothers are all younger, so what do they know?)