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| Senate defies Bush on stem cells | Senate defies Bush on stem cells |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The US Senate has voted to ease restrictions on using federal funds for stem-cell research, defying the threat of a veto by President George W Bush. | The US Senate has voted to ease restrictions on using federal funds for stem-cell research, defying the threat of a veto by President George W Bush. |
| The Democrat-controlled Senate passed the vote with a majority of 63 to 24 - just short of the two-thirds required to override a presidential veto. | The Democrat-controlled Senate passed the vote with a majority of 63 to 24 - just short of the two-thirds required to override a presidential veto. |
| Mr Bush has said he will use his powers to veto the Senate's vote. He vetoed a similar draft bill last year. | Mr Bush has said he will use his powers to veto the Senate's vote. He vetoed a similar draft bill last year. |
| Democrats argue that the restrictions are impeding vital medical research. | Democrats argue that the restrictions are impeding vital medical research. |
| Upon taking charge of Congress last year, the party vowed to push for easing curbs on federal funding for stem-cell research. | Upon taking charge of Congress last year, the party vowed to push for easing curbs on federal funding for stem-cell research. |
| Alternative bill | Alternative bill |
| Stem cells are immature cells, created shortly after conception, which have the capacity to turn into any kind of tissue in the body. | Stem cells are immature cells, created shortly after conception, which have the capacity to turn into any kind of tissue in the body. |
| Scientists hope to use stem cells taken from frozen human embryos to repair tissue affected by disease or injury. | Scientists hope to use stem cells taken from frozen human embryos to repair tissue affected by disease or injury. |
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 | |
| BACKNEXT1 of 5 | |
| "Not every day do we have the opportunity to vote to heal the sick," Democrat Senator Claire McCaskill said, describing it as "a noble cause". | "Not every day do we have the opportunity to vote to heal the sick," Democrat Senator Claire McCaskill said, describing it as "a noble cause". |
| Speaking before the vote, however, a White House spokeswoman said the president would veto the proposed bill because it "crosses a moral line that would use taxpayer dollars to destroy human embryos". | Speaking before the vote, however, a White House spokeswoman said the president would veto the proposed bill because it "crosses a moral line that would use taxpayer dollars to destroy human embryos". |
| Conservative Republicans have likened the destruction of frozen human embryos to abortion. | Conservative Republicans have likened the destruction of frozen human embryos to abortion. |
| Mr Bush imposed restrictions on spending government money on stem-cell research when he came to power in 2001. | Mr Bush imposed restrictions on spending government money on stem-cell research when he came to power in 2001. |
| He limited the offer of federal funds to research on stem-cell batches that were already available that August and ruled out funding work on fresh batches. | He limited the offer of federal funds to research on stem-cell batches that were already available that August and ruled out funding work on fresh batches. |
| The president has instead offered to fund an alternative form of research which uses cells taken from amniotic fluid, placentas and from embryos that have died naturally. | The president has instead offered to fund an alternative form of research which uses cells taken from amniotic fluid, placentas and from embryos that have died naturally. |
| The Senate passed a bill endorsing funding for such research later on Wednesday. | The Senate passed a bill endorsing funding for such research later on Wednesday. |