[In the News]:Stem Cell Research


This is Steve Emberwith the VOA Special English program IN THE NEWS.

Last week, President Bush approved limited federal governmentsupport of research on special human cells. The research involvesstem cells taken from fertilized human eggs called embryos. Manygroups disagree with the President's decision. Some religious groupsbelieve that all research on stem cells from embryos should bebanned. Yet, many scientists and some lawmakers believe no limitsshould be put on the research. Private laboratories that do not usefederal money are not affected by the limits on the stem cellresearch.

Stem cells have qualities that may make them highly useful in thetreatment of many diseases. The stem cells from embryos are the mostuseful. They are able to develop into all the tissues of the body.Embryonic stem cells are taken from embryos created in laboratoriesto help women become pregnant. During the first days, the cells inthe embryo divide quickly. Each of these cells is able to become anyone of more than two-hundred different kinds of cells in the body.After about four days of development, the embryos are destroyed andthe stem cells removed. Adult stem cells are taken from humantissue. These cells have not yet developed to become cells of anorgan or a kind of tissue. Removing stem cells does not harm anadult. But adult stem cells are difficult to identify. And,scientists do not know if adult stem cells have the ability tobecome cells of any kind of organ or tissue. Research suggests thatstem cells from embryos can help organs rebuild damaged tissue.Currently, adult stem cells, taken from bone tissue, are used togrow several kinds of blood and bone cells. However, researchersbelieve that embryonic stem cells could treat diseases of the brain,liver, kidneys and heart. Some experts say new tissue could be grownto replace damaged nerve, muscle and even brain cells. PresidentBush limited government financial support to sixty existing groupsof cells already taken from embryos. These groups of stem cells arenow reproducing by themselves in laboratories worldwide. This week,President Bush threatened to veto any bill that offers federalsupport for research on additional stem cells. Yet, some scientistssay that it is impossible to know how many groups of stem cells fromembryos will be needed to make discoveries that can save lives. Anumber of congressmen want expanded research to have full federalsupport. The religious groups that oppose stem cell researchconsider it the same as taking human life. Other religious groupsaccept the research because it could lead to cures for diseases suchas Parkinson's and diabetes. A national debate continues over thescientific and moral issues involved in research on embryonic stemcells.

This VOA Special English program, IN THE NEWS, was written byMario Ritter. This is Steve Ember.

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