Obama ends stem cell funding ban

Obama ends stem cell funding ban
Obama reverses stem cell ban
US President Barack Obama has lifted restrictions on federal funding for research on new stem cell lines.
Mr Obama signed an executive order in a major reversal of US policy, pledging to "vigorously support" new research.
Ex-President George W Bush blocked the use of any government money to fund research on human embryonic stem cell lines created after 9 August 2001.
Scientists say stem cell research will lead to medical breakthroughs, but many religious groups oppose the research.
Announcing the new policy, Mr Obama said he was authorising a change "so many scientists and researchers and doctors and innovators, patients and loved ones have hoped for and fought for these past eight years".
Opinion polls suggest most Americans support stem cell research, reports the BBC's Richard Lister, in Washington, but the National Right to Life Committee described the move as a "slippery slope". It has also been condemned by the Vatican.

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Thank you, President Obama.