Obama set to reverse stem cell order

US president Barack H Obama may sign an executive order on Monday lifting the ban on funding of embryonic stem cell research. Former President George W Bush had imposed restriction on funding for embryonic stem cell research eight years ago, when took the charge of US President.

The move of Obama will reverse the effect of Bush Administration's restrictions on embryonic stem cell in which Bush had signed an executive order that said federal dollars could be spent for research only on stem cell lines created before Aug 9, 2001.

•   E-mail Article
•   Printer Friendly
•   Text-Size    

This had restricted the scientists to perform their research freely.

The anti-abortion community and religious groups are also not in the favour of stem cell research as stem cells are produced from embryos that must be destroyed in the process. Bush was also against the abortion to conduct the research.

But, on the other hand, the scientists see it as a strong tool that enable scientists to successfully treating the ‘so called’ incurable diseases like Parkinson’s, spinal injury and other major disorders.

The stem cell can transform into any cell in the body that boost the cell to develop a new cell. But due to ethical controversy, it had been banned so far and to every possibility, Obama may have to face huge protest from anti-abortion activists and religious groups.