2006年VOA标准英语-Stem Cell Issue Could Be Factor in US Elections

By Jim Malone
Washington
17 August 2006

The ethical¹ and moral debate over expanding embryonic² stem cell research could motivate voters on both sides of the issue in this year's U.S. congressional elections.
 

Color-enhanced stemcell from bonemarrow   
  
Embryonic stem cells are master cells within the fetus³ that can develop into any form of human tissue.

Supporters of expanding stem cell research contend it has the potential to help treat diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes⁴, as well as some spinal⁵ cord injuries.

Cody Unser was stricken with a rare spinal cord infection that has left her a paraplegic.

"Over 100 years ago, man could not fly.  All I want to do is walk again.  Stem cell research is my answer.  Do not let me and others who are suffering wait any longer," he said.

Advocates have focused on expanding embryonic stem cell research because scientific experiments have shown them more adaptable⁶ than adult stem cells.

But opponents of expanding stem cell funding counter that it is immoral⁷ to destroy the embryos⁸ used in the research, arguing they represent the earliest form of human life.

In fact, the stem cell issue became the subject of President Bush's first congressional veto.  In July,  the president struck down an attempt by lawmakers to lift federal funding restrictions⁹ on human embryonic stem cell research.

President Bush   
  
"In this new era, our challenge is to harness the power of science to ease human suffering without sanctioning the practices that violate the dignity of human life," said Mr. Bush.

Mr. Bush says the pre-existing stem cell lines that are currently the subject of federally funded research are adequate and that taxpayers¹⁰ should not support expanded research on surplus embryos at fertility clinics, even if they are slated¹¹ for disposal.

Conservative religious activists¹² welcomed the president's veto.  They oppose the use of human embryos for stem cell research and praise couples who adopt the embryos, implant¹³ them in a woman's womb and bring them to term.

But opinion polls indicate that most Americans are generally supportive of expanding stem cell research and excited about the potential they represent for combating diseases.

Even some notable Republicans have broken with the president on the issue.  They include Senate Republican leader Bill Frist, a heart surgeon from Tennessee, and former First Lady Nancy Reagan, whose late husband, former President Ronald Reagan, battled Alzheimer's disease.

Political analysts¹⁴ believe the stem cell issue could have an impact on some of the congressional races in November when Republicans attempt to hold majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

John Fortier monitors U.S. politics at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.

"You have people who are pro-life behind the president and that may help Republicans in certain [congressional] districts," he explained.  "But in northeastern districts, Democrats¹⁵, I think, will be helped in certain swing or moderate districts where Republicans are put in a difficult position."

Conservative groups that emphasize opposition¹⁶ to social issues like homosexual marriage and abortion¹⁷ hope to seize on the stem cell issue as a way of boosting voter turnout in November.

Stuart Rothenberg publishes an independent political newsletter in Washington.

"This is one of those elections where while Democratic enthusiasm is up, at the moment, the early indications are that Republican enthusiasm is down," he noted¹⁸.

Democrats believe their support for expanding stem cell research will appeal to independent and even moderate Republican voters who disagree with President Bush over the issue.

In the Midwest state of Missouri, voters will decide on a ballot¹⁹ initiative that would protect stem cell research.  The issue has also become a hot topic of debate in the Missouri Senate race between Republican incumbent²⁰ Jim Talent and his Democratic challenger, Claire McCaskill.

1 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。

2 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。

3 fetus   

n.胎，胎儿

参考例句：

• In the fetus,blood cells are formed in different sites at different ages.胎儿的血细胞在不同时期生成在不同的部位。
• No one knows why a fetus is not automatically rejected by the mother's immune system. 没有人知道为什么母亲的免疫系统不会自动排斥胎儿。

4 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。

5 spinal   

adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的

参考例句：

• After three days in Japan,the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.在日本三天，就已经使脊椎骨变得富有弹性了。
• Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae.你的脊柱由24个活动的脊椎骨构成。

6 adaptable   

adj.能适应的，适应性强的，可改编的

参考例句：

• He is an adaptable man and will soon learn the new work.他是个适应性很强的人，很快就将学会这种工作。
• The soil is adaptable to the growth of peanuts.这土壤适宜于花生的生长。

7 immoral   

adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的

参考例句：

• She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
• It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。

8 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

9 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

10 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。

11 slated   

用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Yuki is working up an in-home phonics program slated for Thursdays, and I'm drilling her on English conversation at dinnertime. Yuki每周四还有一次家庭语音课。我在晚餐时训练她的英语口语。
• Bromfield was slated to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. 布罗姆菲尔德被提名为美国农业部长。

12 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 implant   

vt.注入，植入，灌输

参考例句：

• A good teacher should implant high ideals in children.好教师应该把高尚理想灌输给孩子们。
• The operation to implant the artificial heart took two hours.人工心脏植入手术花费了两小时。

14 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

15 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

17 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

18 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

19 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

20 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。