Obama ends Bush ban on embryo stem cell research

[keep_it_real]

Barack Obama will overturn an important medical research policy of George Bush's presidency on Monday, by ending restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research which scientists consider crucial for the development of new medical treatments.

Although US public opinion was strongly in favour of the research, Bush yielded to his conservative backers in 2001 and banned federal funding for it except on stem cell lines that already existed at the time.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/06/embryonic-stem-cell-research-obama

[Cha]

1. Can never get enough of

this good news!

[BamaTideFan83]

2. To be fair . . .

. . . your subject line is a bit misleading. Bush did not ban embryonic stem cell research. He merely prohibited Federal funds from being used to create new stem cell lines. Several states did fund research. And the pharmaceutical companies, universities, and research coalitions POURED money into the research. Some day, this will pay off. Adult stem cell research is kicking embryonic stem cell research's butt, so far. Not sure why . . . maybe someone more knowledgeable can comment on that.

[Clear Blue Sky]

5. Correct. There was no ban on industry funding.

Most of the big breakthroughs have been using adult stem cells anyway.

Embryonic stem cells are a wild card. High risk of tumor growth.

As long as private/industry research is possible, it will continue as there is a huge profit potential.

[muffin1]

3. It sure is nice

to have a President that respects science instead of ideology. Happy days are here again!

[Political Tiger]

4. Of course, the hypocritical holier-than-thou cons

are up in arms over this. What I would like to ask these hypocrites is that if a cure is found for, say Parkinson's Disease, through embryonic stem cell research, and one of these useless cons or one of their children is stricken by Parkinson's Disease, would they refuse treatment? I bet the answer is no!

[Arkana]

7. Of course they are--but they're the minority now.

Like Leo McGarry said: "Being in power means the other guys get to take a seat for four years."

[jesus_of_suburbia]

6. Thank God! Embryonic stem cell research is so important for so many people

who are waiting for science to come up with new and better medical treatments (and cures).

Diabetes, MS, and oh so many other ailments.