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| Obama is to reverse stem cell ban | Obama is to reverse stem cell ban |
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| US President Barack Obama is expected to lift restrictions on federal funding for research on new stem cell lines. | US President Barack Obama is expected to lift restrictions on federal funding for research on new stem cell lines. |
| Officials say Mr Obama will authorise the move by executive order on Monday, in a major reversal of US policy. | Officials say Mr Obama will authorise the move by executive order on Monday, in a major reversal of US policy. |
| Ex-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. | Ex-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. |
| Analysts say Mr Obama's decision could also lead Congress to overturn a ban on spending tax dollars to create embryos. | Analysts say Mr Obama's decision could also lead Congress to overturn a ban on spending tax dollars to create embryos. |
| The ban, known as the Dickey-Wicker amendment, has been in place since 1996 and renewed every year by Congress. | The ban, known as the Dickey-Wicker amendment, has been in place since 1996 and renewed every year by Congress. |
| But Democrat Congresswoman Diana DeGette told the New York Times newspaper that several anti-abortion colleagues were open to the possibility of reversing the ban if this was necessary to help research. | But Democrat Congresswoman Diana DeGette told the New York Times newspaper that several anti-abortion colleagues were open to the possibility of reversing the ban if this was necessary to help research. |
| The practice of creating embryos is routine in private clinics, but the ban put constraints on federal researchers even before the restrictions imposed by former President Bush, forcing them to use embryos left over from fertility treatments. | The practice of creating embryos is routine in private clinics, but the ban put constraints on federal researchers even before the restrictions imposed by former President Bush, forcing them to use embryos left over from fertility treatments. |
| 'Respect for science' | 'Respect for science' |
| 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 stem cell decision is indeed a repudiation of a Bush policy but it is more: the strange death of socially conservative America, which began in the mid-terms in 2006, continues apace Justin Webb's blog | The stem cell decision is indeed a repudiation of a Bush policy but it is more: the strange death of socially conservative America, which began in the mid-terms in 2006, continues apace Justin Webb's blog |
| Correspondents say the policy change is part of President Obama's pledge to make clear that his administration wants scientific research to be free from political interference. | Correspondents say the policy change is part of President Obama's pledge to make clear that his administration wants scientific research to be free from political interference. |
| It expected that his announcement about federal money will be accompanied by a promise that what he calls "sound science" will be respected by his administration. | It expected that his announcement about federal money will be accompanied by a promise that what he calls "sound science" will be respected by his administration. |
| It is also thought that the announcement is timed to allow an adequate period for health officials to draw up research guidelines before a deadline for government stimulus money runs out. | It is also thought that the announcement is timed to allow an adequate period for health officials to draw up research guidelines before a deadline for government stimulus money runs out. |
| Stem cells are cells with the capacity to turn into any other type of human cell, be it bone, muscle or nerve cell. | 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. | 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. | But the use of human embryonic stem cells in research is controversial with some campaigners saying it is unethical. |
| 'Vindicated' | 'Vindicated' |
| Researchers have also been developing techniques to create stem cells without using embryos, by modifying other types of cell. | Researchers have also been developing techniques to create stem cells without using embryos, by modifying other types of cell. |
type="text/css" href="/nol/shared/spl/hi/dhtml_slides/css/styles.css" media="screen" rel="stylesheet" />class="h2_header">STEM CELL TECHNOLOGY | |
| Key sources for stem cells are adult organs or embryonic cells | |
| Adult stem cells are identified and separated from other cells | |
| Embryonic stem cells are removed from 5-day-old embryos | |
| Cells are manipulated to stimulate them to take on a specific function | |
| Specialised cells may then be used to treat unhealthy areas | |
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| 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. | "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. | 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. | Mr Obama made it clear during the presidential election campaign that, if elected, he would reverse the Bush administration's decision. |
| President Bush had twice vetoed congressional attempts to have the ban lifted. | President Bush had twice vetoed congressional attempts to have the ban lifted. |
| "I strongly support expanding research on stem cells," Mr Obama said on the campaign trail. | "I strongly support expanding research on stem cells," Mr Obama 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." | "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." |
| President Bush and other social conservatives argued that the embryos are human life and therefore should not be destroyed. | President Bush and other social conservatives argued that the embryos are human life and therefore should not be destroyed. |
| The restrictions that President Bush has placed on funding of human embryonic stem cell research have handcuffed our scientists US President Barack Obama White House stem cell shift expectedQ&A: Stem cellsSend us your comments | |
| Like Mr Bush, President Obama has profound Christian beliefs but he has defined the issue in terms of restoring scientific integrity to government, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Washington. | Like Mr Bush, President Obama has profound Christian beliefs but he has defined the issue in terms of restoring scientific integrity to government, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Washington. |
| Speaking to the BBC in January, Dr Robert Evans, a pastor and bioethicist, said he would oppose any move to allow federal funding for new stem cell lines. | Speaking to the BBC in January, Dr Robert Evans, a pastor and bioethicist, said he would oppose any move to allow federal funding for new stem cell lines. |
| "What it signals is that the human embryo has been denied moral standing and a corresponding right to life," he said. | "What it signals is that the human embryo has been denied moral standing and a corresponding right to life," he said. |
| "As an evangelical who believes all life is created equal in the image of God, and that we have moral standing from the moment of conception, I would view that as a very chilling decision." | "As an evangelical who believes all life is created equal in the image of God, and that we have moral standing from the moment of conception, I would view that as a very chilling decision." |