Stem cell research is still a hot topic for debate

And it will remain a hot issue the next couple of days now that the House passed a bill that would relax the restrictions our president place on stem cell research in which research can only done on the embryonic stem cells from only 80 or so cell lines (though many lines turned out to be useless).

Many consider embryonic stem cell research to be the key to finding cures for many (for now) incurable diseases such as juvenile diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc. Opponents of the research point to the recent study in which scientists "succeeded in creating embryonic stem cells without using eggs or destroying embryos" (New York Times). However, this has yet to be done using human cells – which may offer a different result.

Our president, a major opponent of stem cell research, stated "I am disappointed the leadership of Congress recycled an old bill that would simply overturn our country's carefully balanced policy on embryonic stem-cell research" (New York Times). Perhaps he should think about this. If Congress is recycling an old bill, and the bill passed even AFTER the findings of the above study were released, then perhaps Congress believes it is a worthy cause worth pursuing. (Btw, the bill passed by a vote of 247 to 176)