Addressing the issue of liftingthe ban on use of embryonic
stem cells in research, a senior
advisor to President Obama
said on Fox News Sunday
"We're going to be doing something on that soon, I think.
The President is considering that right now."
Obama advisor David Axelrod said President Obama will soon issue an executive order lifting an eight-year ban on embryonic stem cell research imposed by his predecessor, President George W Bush.
In 2001 Bush banned the use of any embryonic stem cells lines which didn't already exist in an attempt to placate his right wing Christian fundamentalist backers who had played an important role in his election to the presidency.
Rather than making use of existing embryos slated for destruction by fertility clinics, Bush announced that those soon-to-be discarded embryos were not to be used for spare parts in a public crawling baby dog and pony show to the applause of some and the horror of many. While private parties struggled to raise research funds, Congress hustled to enact and pass corrective legislation only to be vetoed.
Embryonic stem cells are the master cell of the body; they can be made into any other kind of tissue. Instead of funding at a time when it would have been possible and encouraging embryonic stem cell research, former President Bush's policies caused research labs to waste their valuable time and limited monies keeping separate accounts of approved and unapproved stem cells. In the research equivalent of keeping kosher, universities had to establish and maintain separate facilities and funding sources.
Many researchers have long felt that learning to understand embryonic stem cells will bring us to the cures for many chronic neuromuscular and auto-immune diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, ALS, type I Diabetes, Guillain Barre' and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Since President Obama took office sufferers and advocates of these diseases have been hoping and waiting for this pending executive order. Hoping for an end to Bush's anti-intellectualism and waiting for the President to complete the economic stimulus plan.
Sources:
15 Feb. 2009, Fox Sunday News
15 Feb 2009, Reuters, Alan Elsner
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