Neuroscience is coming of age. For the first time there is a realistic hope of designing treatments for paralysis, head injuries and stroke, and progressive neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and brain cancer. But just as scientists pick up speed in their quest for new therapies, politicians are applying the brakes. The British Parliament recently voted down proposals to allow researchers to study stem cells harvested from embryos—cells that may ultimately help paralysed people walk again and treat devastating neurological diseases. And if the Republicans prevail in the contested US presidential elections, they will likely reverse an earlier decision allowing such research to be publicly funded. While these moves may be motivated by the best intentions, they could delay long-awaited advances by years. Researchers are trying new approaches to avoid this ethical conundrum—they are making huge strides in finding new sources of stem cells, for instance. But without the knowledge that might be gained from studying embryonic stem cells, many of these efforts will be wasted.
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