Tuesday July 17 7:38 PM ET -- Time to buy STEM again? -->
Report Supports Stem Cell Study
By ANJETTA McQUEEN, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Scientists must be free to study stem cells
from all sources - including living human embryos - to discover the full
potential of the cells to treat disease, says a federal report requested by
the Bush administration.
President Bush (news - web sites) is weighing whether to allow federal
funding of embryonic stem cell research, which is opposed by some
because isolating the cells requires the death of a human embryo. Bush
asked the federal researchers for more information on the issue, but the
confidential report from the National Institutes of Health (news - web
sites) does not make a recommendation one way or the other on federal
funding.
The report, to be released Wednesday at a congressional hearing,
focuses on the science.
An executive summary, obtained by The Associated Press, says
embryonic stem cells have the ability to develop into all types of cells
and tissue, a flexibility that may be lacking in so-called ``adult'' stem cells
taken from mature tissue. However, the report concludes, ``the answers
clearly lie in conducting more research.''
The White House received a copy of the report Tuesday from federal
officials, said presidential spokesman Scott McClellan.
``The report is one component of the scientific, ethical and legal issues
involved,'' McClellan said. ``The president intends to look at it in that
context.''
Both opponents and supporters of embryonic stem cell research held up
the report as evidence of their arguments.
The study ``clearly presents adult stem cells as a legitimate alternative
with great future potential,'' said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., an abortion
foe who opposes federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.
To Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, the report says that in some cases,
``embryonic stem cells are more promising than adult stem cells.''
Scientists believe they can learn to direct the development of embryonic
stem cells in order to grow mature cells or tissues that could be used to
treat disease. Some estimate that stem cells could benefit more than 100
million patients with such disorders as Alzheimer's disease (news - web
sites), Parkinson's disease (news - web sites), diabetes and spinal cord
injuries.
Opponents of the research believe embryos should not be killed, even
for the treatment of disease. Instead, they favor research using the adult
stem cells, which are taken from mature organs and then manipulated in
the lab.
The federal report made distinctions among the types of stem cells. For
example, it discussed the differences between cells extracted from
fetuses and from embryos. Embryonic germ cells, taken from the
developing reproductive areas of a fetus, are described as being similar
to the embryonic stem cells.
A consistent theme of the report is that more research is needed before
any firm, scientific conclusion can be reached on the relative medical
value of the stem cell types.
``During the next several years, it will be important to compare
embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells in terms of their ability to
proliferate, differentiate, survive and function after transplant, and avoid
immune rejection,'' said the report.
The NIH prepared the report in June at the request of Health and
Human Services (news - web sites) Secretary Tommy Thompson. An
HHS spokesman, Bill Pierce, said the report had not been released
beyond the HHS, not even to the White House.
Some members of Congress, representing both political parties,
discussed the report at a hearing on Tuesday and at a news event
featuring families afflicted by deadly diseases.
``Life begins in the womb of a mother, not in a petri dish; pro-life means
helping people live,'' Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., told the cheering
crowd.
Daphne Thomas, a Sterling, Va., doctor, described how embryonic
stem cells might help her daughter Alyssa, who suffers from Rett
syndrome, a neurological disease.
``She walks with difficulty. She falls easily. She can't color with crayons
like other 4-year-olds,'' said Thomas.
The event was the latest in a string of public events aimed at putting
political pressure on the president. White House aides said Tuesday the
president's decision is still pending. Bush is in Europe for an economic
summit. |
