Futuríveis

The European Union on Monday agreed to allow funding for human embryonic stem cell experiments after member states compromised on the way the research is financed.

The decision comes a week after President George W. Bush angered the research community by vetoing an expansion in federal funding for stem cell science in the US.

Lord Sainsbury, Britain’s science minister, hailed the decision reached by a majority of EU countries as an opportunity for Europe to forge ahead. “Symbolically it is very significant,” he said. “In Europe we are moving forward on this front, whereas America has taken, as far as the federal government is concerned, a very negative position.”

Lord Sainsbury added that Monday’s agreement could lead to disillusioned US scientists moving to European countries.

Backers of research on human embryos say it could allow scientists to find cures for Parkinson’s, diabetes and heart failure. Opponents say the experiments destroy human life.

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