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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

(Newser) – 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.”

President Barack Obama smiles during the Columbus Police Graduation Exercises in Columbus, Ohio, last week.
President Barack Obama smiles during the Columbus Police Graduation Exercises in Columbus, Ohio, last week.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
An embryologist holds a dish with human embryos at the La Jolla IVF Clinic in California. The clinic accepts donated embryos which are then given to stem cell research labs.
An embryologist holds a dish with human embryos at the La Jolla IVF Clinic in California. The clinic accepts donated embryos which are then given to stem cell research labs.   (Getty Images)
President Barack Obama during a musical birthday salute to Kennedy yesterday at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.
President Barack Obama during a musical birthday salute to Kennedy yesterday at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
riffran
Mar 9, 2009 6:01 AM CDT
"Dickey -Wicker"??....sounds like some kind of nasty sado-masochistic device......youve been a naughty naughty boy.....Beg for the dickey wicker......*whip snaps*.......rofl....ok I'm done.......as long as it's ethical, and not out of some sci-fi-horror novel...."gitr done"

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