(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
[grants] In their eagerness to distance himself from President George W. Bush, several states in the United States have now decided to strengthen their separate research grants. First out was California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In response to the president's veto against stem cell research, he has allocated a staggering $ 150 million from his budget, equivalent to $ 930 million.
- Such research can not wait for a new president, until it is too important, one of his advisers explains to Ny Tid.
Last month, for the first time, Bush used his veto rights against a new law that would allow the use of state funding for stem cell research on fertilized eggs. However, the veto has had unexpected consequences. The unpopular president is on a collision course with over 70 percent of the population in this
the question.
For Schwarzenegger, support for stem cell research has helped strengthen his reputation as a moderate Republican. The former action hero hopes to be re-elected in a state where the population overwhelmingly votes democratically, and bets that distance to Bush will be decisive.
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevic, a Democrat and Ihuga Bush opponent, also responded promptly. He declared that he would dedicate NOK 35 million to stem cell research
in his state.
"Bush has unintentionally contributed to a funding fever we have never seen before," said Sean Tipton, president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research.
Today, about 100 million Americans suffer from diseases that could one day be eradicated through stem cell research and therapy. So far, only South Dakota has a total ban on such research, while five states (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland and New Jersey) allow the use of funds from the state's own budgets.
Prohibited in Norway
[banned] In Norway, stem cell research is still banned. The Soria Moria Declaration obliged the red-green parties to soften the legislation so as to align with the EU, which recently decided to continue research funding. Health and Care Minister Sylvia Brustad's bill is out for hearing, but so far has faced fierce opposition from religious groups who believe such research is taking innocent lives, hoping for medical benefits for others.Stem cells
- Stem cells are cells that have the capacity for self-renewal and to mature into various specialized cells.
- There are two types: embryonic and adult. While embryonic stem cells are derived from unborn humans, adult stem cells can be isolated from born individuals.
- The most important source of embryonic stem cells is excess eggs from assisted fertilization, eggs that in most instances will have to be discarded in any case because they have become too old.
- Research on and treatment of embryonic stem cells is prohibited in Norway.
