How have the changes in policy under the Obama administration affected stem cell research and its funding?
Under the previous administration policy, only about 22 embryonic stem cell lines (created before August 2001) were available for distribution to researchers under federal funding. These federally approved cell lines were limited in their utility for a variety of reasons, including lack of genetic diversity, chromosomal abnormalities, exposure to and potential contamination by mouse feeder cells, and poor growth characteristics. Other sources of funding existed to support research and the creation of new embryonic stem cell lines, but equipment and facilities had to be duplicated in order to avoid using federally funded resources for anything linked to embryonic stem cell research. In March of 2009, President Obama signed an executive order overturning Bush-era stem cell research policies. The new order allows for federal grants to support studies using existing embryonic stem cells regardless of when they were created, and on new cell lines if they were created from embryos left over
Related Questions
- How have the changes in policy under the Obama administration affected stem cell research and its funding?
- How is human embryonic stem cell research affected by the current policies of the Bush administration?
- What do you think about President Obamas decision to allow federal funding for stem cell research?
