In a research milestone, the federal government will allow the world’s first test in people of a therapy derived from human embryonic stem cells. The clearance of the clinical trial — of a treatment for spinal cord injury — is to be announced Friday by Geron, the biotechnology company that first applied to the Food and Drug Administration to conduct the trial last March. The F.D.A. had first said no, [but reversed their decision yesterday].One of Mr. Bush's first actions in 2001 was to halt research that utilized stem cells. It was a shout out to his uber-conservative supporters who seemed to think that microscopic goo is tantamount to a new born baby and therefore, by extension, utilizing them for medical purposes was "murder."
Reason and the appreciation of science have returned. Cooler, more reflective heads now prevail.
