Stem Cells in the New Year

Stem Cells in the New Year

Well, 2006 has gone, and we have a new Congress. Stem cells are back on the political agenda now that Democrats control the House (and the Senate—maybe—depending on Tim Johnson’s recovery from stroke). Reuters reports that leaders of both parts of Congress intend to put forth the same bill that Bush vetoed last year; they predict it will again pass easily and that there may even be enough votes to over-ride a veto. AP reports on the same thing, but with a focus on the new research showing that stem cells obtained from amniotic fluid (see separate post on this) may be effective—according to an article in the Houston Chronicle (among may others), Congressional leaders are not embracing this research as a replacement for embryonic stem cell research right now, but it may present an additional argument on the side of people who are opposed to hESC research. However, the Boston Globe reports that the researcher who worked with the amniotic stem cells is telling Congress that his work is not a substitute for hESC research, and that appears to be the line stem-cell supporters will be following in Congress.