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【Takungpao News 2005-8-1】
U.S. Senate Majority Leader William Frist recently expressed support for a bill that would increase federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, taking a rare stance against President Bush. Analysts say Frist's shift in position will boost the bill's chances of passing in the Senate.
According to Xinhua News Agency in Washington on July 31, some Americans oppose related research on ethical grounds because extracting stem cells destroys human embryos. In August 2001, President Bush issued an executive order limiting federal funding to existing human embryonic stem cell lines. The U.S. scientific community has complained that this policy restricts research.
However, in May this year, the House of Representatives passed a bill overturning Bush's limits on stem cell research. Analysts say Frist, a Republican, supporting the bill will significantly increase its chances of passing in the Senate. Frist was once a staunch ally of Bush.
In his Senate speech, Frist said, "I am pro-life, I believe human life begins at conception. I also believe embryonic stem cell research should be supported and encouraged."
Embryonic stem cells are known as "universal cells" with the potential to differentiate into various human tissue cells. Patients with intractable diseases can use their own somatic cells to clone early embryos, extract stem cells, and then induce differentiation into the required tissue cells to replace tissues damaged by disease without causing rejection. Using this technology, known as "regenerative medicine," diseases currently troubling the medical community, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and diabetes, may potentially be cured in the future.
Among the most prominent supporters of the bill is former U.S. President Reagan's wife, Nancy Reagan. Reagan died in June 2004 from Alzheimer's disease. Nancy issued a statement on the 29th, saying, "Thank you, Frist, for standing on the side of American patients."
Source: http://www. takungpao. com/ news/ 2005- 8- 1/ YM- 435689. htm
US May Pass Expanded Stem Cell Research Bill
U.S. Senate Majority Leader William Frist recently expressed support for a bill that would increase federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, taking a rare stance against President Bush. Analysts say Frist's shift in position will boost the bill's chances of passing in the Senate.
According to Xinhua News Agency in Washington on July 31, some Americans oppose related research on ethical grounds because extracting stem cells destroys human embryos. In August 2001, President Bush issued an executive order limiting federal funding to existing human embryonic stem cell lines. The U.S. scientific community has complained that this policy restricts research.
However, in May this year, the House of Representatives passed a bill overturning Bush's limits on stem cell research. Analysts say Frist, a Republican, supporting the bill will significantly increase its chances of passing in the Senate. Frist was once a staunch ally of Bush.
In his Senate speech, Frist said, "I am pro-life, I believe human life begins at conception. I also believe embryonic stem cell research should be supported and encouraged."
Embryonic stem cells are known as "universal cells" with the potential to differentiate into various human tissue cells. Patients with intractable diseases can use their own somatic cells to clone early embryos, extract stem cells, and then induce differentiation into the required tissue cells to replace tissues damaged by disease without causing rejection. Using this technology, known as "regenerative medicine," diseases currently troubling the medical community, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and diabetes, may potentially be cured in the future.
Among the most prominent supporters of the bill is former U.S. President Reagan's wife, Nancy Reagan. Reagan died in June 2004 from Alzheimer's disease. Nancy issued a statement on the 29th, saying, "Thank you, Frist, for standing on the side of American patients."
Source: http://www. takungpao. com/ news/ 2005- 8- 1/ YM- 435689. htm