Obama to fund stem cell research

BBC Learning English
Words in the News
9th March 2009
Obama to fund stem cell research


Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com

President Obama will announce today that President Bush's ban on the funding of embryonic
stem cell research is to be overturned. The move has already been condemned by
conservative groups but welcomed by many American scientists. Justin Webb reports:

For eight years American scientists have been banned by law from using taxpayers’ money
to assist in work on most embryonic stem cell lines. The result, according to many scientists,
has been a reduction in the effectiveness of their research.

Embryonic stem cells can morph into any cell in the body, and they might one day assist in
curing chronic conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. But their use
involves the destruction of embryos, typically those left over from fertility treatment.

America's religious conservatives are deeply upset. One called the Obama announcement, ‘a
slap in the face to Americans who believe in the dignity of all human life’. The Republican
Party is also opposing the move, which is yet another bold step away from the policies and
ideology of the Bush years, in which religious faith often trumped scientific advice. That
approach, Mister Obama will make clear today, is now history.

Justin Webb, BBC News, Washington


Words in the news © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

banned by law forbidden by the government, not allowed
embryonic stem cell lines a family of cells created from embryos (young animals or
humans in the earliest stage of development) which are
frequently used for research
morph change into something else
chronic conditions diseases which last for a long time or reoccur frequently
left over remaining
a slap in the face a serious insult (this is a phrase, no one was literally hit
across the face)
bold step away a brave move or action to depart from
the Bush years the period of time George Bush was president
trumped won favour over something
is now history is over, in the past

More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7929690.stm
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2009/02/090309_witn_stem_cell.shtml