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The Bush Administration is currently considering the status of federally-funded research into human pluripotent stem cells, primordial cells that have the potential to become any type of cell in the human body. Though there is research suggesting that some cells from adult mouse tissues can be coaxed into becoming pluripotent, the easiest route to these all-purpose cells currently involves material taken from embryonic tissue--and therein lies the problem. Federal law strictly controls funding for fetal tissue research. However, research guidelines issued by the National Institutes of Health last summer gave U.S. researchers some room to maneuver, stating that "although human pluripotent stem cells may be derived from embryos or fetal tissue, such stem cells are not themselves embryos." Those guidelines allowed federal funds to continue to go to researchers in the field. Now, as the Bush Administration debates whether to continue to allow federal research funding under those guidelines, some supporters of a ban on funding are pointing to recent research involving stem cells taken from adult mice. The work, they say, may make research involving cells derived from embryonic tissue unnecessary. Other researchers, however, aren't sure that adult cells will be able to do as much as embryonic cells. In addition, some say, the benefits that might be gained through exploring all types of stem cell research, including possible treatments for diseases such as Parkinson's and leukemia, are too great to pass up. In this hour, we'll talk about the current state of research into pluripotent
stem cells, both from fetal and adult sources. Plus, we'll get an update
on the political maneuvering around the issue in Washington. Call in
with your thoughts and comments at 1-800-989-8255, and share your opinions
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