VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Lifts Stem Cell Research Restrictions

U.S. President Barack Obama has lifted restrictions¹ on federal funding for medical research using human embryonic³ stem cells. Mr. Obama says it is part of a broader effort to limit political interference in science.
　
President Barack Obama signs an Executive Order on stem cells and a Presidential Memorandum⁵ on scientific integrity, 09 Mar⁶ 2009

Unlike adult cells which have specific functions, stem cells from very early embryos⁷ have the ability to grow into any tissue in the body. Scientists say embryonic stem cells hold the promise of cures and treatments for diseases and conditions ranging from diabetes⁸ to paralysis⁹.

But opponents say because a days-old embryo² is destroyed in the process, stem cell research is unethical, and amounts to the destruction of human life.

In 2001, then President George W. Bush put limits on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research. President Obama says that move was wrong and based on, what he calls, a false choice between sound science and moral values.

"In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent," the president said. "As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and the will to pursue this research - and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly."

The president signed an executive order lifting the restrictions at a White House ceremony attended by scientists, patient advocates, and members of Congress.

He also put his signature on an accompanying memo⁴ designed to shield science from political interference.

The move was welcomed by Dr. Irving Weissman of Stanford University - a pioneer in stem cell research.

"The Bush administration brought in political requirements that you do not do certain types of research because of their politics, or the ideology¹⁰, for some their religion," Weissman said. "That is absolutely unprecedented¹¹ in American science."

But critics of the decisions say there are other options available to researchers besides embryonic stem cells.

David Prentice is with the Washington-based Family Research Council. He cites new efforts to transform adult stem cells to give them many of the qualities of embryonic cells.

"Using embryos (is) old science, bad health care. It is the adult stem cells that actually help patients now," Prentice said.

In making his announcement, President Obama said the government will support promising¹² research of all kinds. He said it is time to make up for lost ground.

That is welcome news for Carl Robb. He has Parkinson's Disease - a degenerative disease of the central nervous system.

"This is going to allow the best and the brightest to do the work that needs to be done and has not been done for so long," Robb said.

The president's announcement did not address a related issue, whether or not to lift the ban on federal funds for research on embryos themselves. The ban, put in place by Congress, bars the use of tax dollars to create human embryos in a laboratory.

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 embryo   

n.胚胎，萌芽的事物

参考例句：

• They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
• The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。

3 embryonic   

adj.胚胎的

参考例句：

• It is still in an embryonic stage.它还处于萌芽阶段。
• The plan,as yet,only exists in embryonic form.这个计划迄今为止还只是在酝酿之中。

4 memo   

n.照会，备忘录；便笺；通知书；规章

参考例句：

• Do you want me to send the memo out?您要我把这份备忘录分发出去吗？
• Can you type a memo for me?您能帮我打一份备忘录吗？

5 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

6 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

7 embryos   

n.晶胚；胚，胚胎( embryo的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Somatic cells of angiosperms enter a regenerative phase and behave like embryos. 被子植物体细胞进入一个生殖阶段，而且其行为象胚。 来自辞典例句
• Evolution can explain why human embryos look like gilled fishes. 进化论能够解释为什么人类的胚胎看起来象除去了内脏的鱼一样。 来自辞典例句

8 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

9 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。

10 ideology   

n.意识形态，(政治或社会的)思想意识

参考例句：

• The ideology has great influence in the world.这种思想体系在世界上有很大的影响。
• The ideal is to strike a medium between ideology and inspiration.我的理想是在意识思想和灵感鼓动之间找到一个折衷。

11 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

12 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。