Obama Stem Cell Order Won't Cover All Embryo Research

Stem cell order will not tell Congress to allow creation of new lines
By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 9, 2009 4:33 AM CDT
Obama Stem Cell Order Won't Cover All Embryo Research
President Barack Obama smiles during the Columbus Police Graduation Exercises in Columbus, Ohio, last week.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Barack Obama is set to lift the Bush administration's restrictions on federally funded embryonic stem cell research, but his announcement today won't cover all such experiments, the New York Times reports. The president's action will allow scientists to do research using existing stem cell lines, and those embryos left over from fertility clinics. But a congressional ban in effect since 1996 will still prevent federal researchers from creating and experimenting on their own stem cell lines.

Obama doesn't have the power to overturn what's called the Dickey-Wicker ban, and he's leaving the issue to Congress to consider. Overturning the ban "would be difficult, but not impossible," says one House member. “It’s a wonderful development tomorrow,” says Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette, “but it’s really the first step in opening up ethical cell-based research.”
(More Barack Obama stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X