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| Obama 'to reverse stem cell ban' | Obama 'to reverse stem cell ban' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama will lift restrictions on federal funding for research on new stem cell lines, officials have said. | US President Barack Obama will lift restrictions on federal funding for research on new stem cell lines, officials have said. |
| He will authorise the move by executive order on Monday, according to reports. | He will authorise the move by executive order on Monday, according to reports. |
| President George W Bush blocked the use of any government money to fund research on human embryonic stem cell lines created after 9 August 2001. | President George W Bush blocked the use of any government money to fund research on human embryonic stem cell lines created after 9 August 2001. |
| Scientists say stem cell research will lead to medical breakthroughs, but many religious groups oppose the research. | Scientists say stem cell research will lead to medical breakthroughs, but many religious groups oppose the research. |
| The embryonic stem cells used in research tend to be harvested from unused embryos created as a result of in vitro fertilisation treatment at fertility clinics. | |
| Stem cells are cells with the capacity to turn into any other type of human cell, be it bone, muscle or nerve cell. | |
| One embryo can provide a limitless supply because the cell lines can be grown indefinitely. | |
| But the use of human embryonic stem cells in research is controversial with some campaigners saying it is unethical. | |
| 'Vindicated' | |
| Researchers have also been developing techniques to create stem cells without using embryos, by modifying other types of cell. | |
| The move to lift the ban on federal funding was welcomed by stem cell researchers. | |
| "I feel vindicated after eight years of struggle, and I know it's going to energise my research team," Dr George Daley of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute told the Associated Press. | |
| The federal funding ban has meant that scientists have been forced to separate any privately-funded stem cell research from their government-funded activity. | |
| Mr Obama made it clear during the presidential election campaign that, if elected, he would reverse the Bush administration's decision. | |
| "I strongly support expanding research on stem cells," he said on the campaign trail. | |
| "I believe that the restrictions that President Bush has placed on funding of human embryonic stem cell research have handcuffed our scientists and hindered our ability to compete with other nations." |