Obama to Lift Ban on Stem Cell Research

World | March 7, 2009, Saturday // 00:00
Obama to Lift Ban on Stem Cell Research: Obama to Lift Ban on Stem Cell Research Stem cells have the capacity to develop into any type of cell. Photo by BBC

US President Barack Obama is expected to lift restrictions on federal funding for of human embryonic stem cell research, the Washington Post reports Saturday.

According to sources close to Obama, the President is planning to sign an executive order on Monday to roll back government money to fund research on human embryonic stem cell lines blocked by President George W Bush after 9 August 2001.

Stem cells have the capacity to turn into any other type of human cell and scientists say stem cell research will lead to medical breakthroughs.

Many religious groups, however, oppose the research as unethical because stem cells have to be harvested from unused embryos created as a result of in vitro fertilization treatment at fertility clinics. One embryo can provide a limitless supply because the cell lines can be grown indefinitely.

The move to lift the ban on federal funding was long anticipated and is welcomed by stem cell researchers.

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