Clinton Approves Embryo Cell ResearchThe United States Government has released guidelines that will allow scientists to conduct publicly funded research using cells taken from human embryos.A government body, the National Institutes of Health, says that any work must follow its ethical and legal guidelines. Some scientists say the research, using special cells known as stem-cells, has the potential to transform medicine, leading to treatments for diseases which are incurable at present. However the work is opposed by religious and anti-abortion groups which consider it immoral. Announcing the change, President Bill Clinton said: "We cannot walk away from the potential to save lives and improve lives, to help people literally get up and walk, to do all kinds of things we could never have imagined". He said his administration had reached its decision after reviewing the extensive guidelines issued by the NIH. |
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