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US President to Announce Stem-Cell Decision Thursday Night
US President George W. Bush will announce his decision Thursday night on whether to support federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.
Bush is expected to disclose his decision at 9 p.m. EDT (0100GMT) in a televised address from his Texas ranch, where he is still on vacation. The speech will run about 8 to 10 minutes.
The main point in Bush's speech will be federal support for research on cells extracted from embryos that are left over from artificial fertilization. Supporters of such research see great potential for medical breakthroughs; opponents insist it is wrong to use human embryos for research. In order to remove the stem cell, the embryo must be destroyed. Besides from human embryos, scientists can get stem cells from human marrow.
Ten days ago, US Congress passed a bill banning all human cloning, and the bill, if passed before Senate and signed by President Bush, will make any attempt to ship, deliver and import human embryonic stem cells a federal crime.
Scientists argue that stem cells have great potential in providing tissues or organs for implanting in the future, and will save thousands of lives by giving doctors new methods in treating various cancers and other diseases.
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