2007年VOA标准英语-Future Unclear for Stem Cell Research in US

By Melinda Smith
Washington
27 June 2007
 

President Bush speaking at the White House about stem cell research, 20 Jun 2007

Some U.S. scientists say President Bush's veto last week of federal funding for stem cell research raises questions about the future of the U.S. involvement in the field.  Mr. Bush rejected Congressional legislation that would have expanded federal money for research on discarded human embryos².  The president says he is opposed on religious grounds to the use of human embryos.  VOA's Melinda Smith looks at the future of stem cell research in the United States in light of this veto.

It has been almost a decade since scientists at the University of Wisconsin were the first to isolate³ stem cells from human embryos and maintain their viability⁴ in the laboratory.  The discovery raised hopes that these cells could eventually lead to treatment for a multitude of incurable⁵ ailments⁶ such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, cancer and spinal⁷ cord injuries. 

For years Americans played a leading role in the development of stem cell science.  Now other countries have stepped up their research and have begun attracting some scientists from the U.S.  Two scientists from Stanford University in California cite the decline in recent years of stem cell research papers published in the U.S.

Sean Tipton of the Coalition⁸ for the Advancement⁹ of Medical Research in Washington, D.C. says U.S. laboratories are paying the price for White House opposition¹⁰. "We want scientific decisions made by scientists, not by politicians."

California and New Jersey¹¹ are among those states where biomedical research on stem cells still thrives.  In 2004, a voter initiative led to the formation of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.  It operates the world's largest fund for embryonic¹² stem cell research.

In 2005, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger committed state funds to stem cell research. "I am very much interested in stem cell research and support it 100 percent."

Dale Carlson, with the Institute, says, "California has 25 percent of the biomedical research capability¹³ in this country.  We need the other 75 percent fully¹⁴ engaged and pursuing these therapies."

There is research underway on stem cells taken from adults, amniotic fluid produced in pregnant women, as well as tissue from mice.  But Dr. Arnold Kriegstein of the University of California in San Francisco believes embryo¹ stem cells are still the best source. "The truth is none of these alternatives really have the potential that embryonic stem cells do to create cells of different types.  [Such as] heart cells, muscle cells, nerve cells and so forth¹⁵."

Those opposed to using human embryos in stem cell research have had strong support from President Bush during both of his terms in office.  Yet polls show a majority of Americans favor an increase in funding on the issue.  Some scientists still working in the field say they are hoping American research will pick up again after the presidential election in 2008.

1 embryo   

n.胚胎，萌芽的事物

参考例句：

• They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
• The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。

2 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

3 isolate   

vt.使孤立，隔离

参考例句：

• Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
• We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。

4 viability   

n.存活(能力)

参考例句：

• What is required to achieve or maintain such viability? 要达到或维持这种生存能力需要什么？
• Scientists are experimenting to find ways to ensure the viability of seeds for even longer periods of time. 正如我们所说，科学家正在试验努力寻找让种子的生命力更加延长的方法。

5 incurable   

adj.不能医治的，不能矫正的，无救的；n.不治的病人，无救的人

参考例句：

• All three babies were born with an incurable heart condition.三个婴儿都有不可治瘉的先天性心脏病。
• He has an incurable and widespread nepotism.他们有不可救药的，到处蔓延的裙带主义。

6 ailments   

疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His ailments include a mild heart attack and arthritis. 他患有轻度心脏病和关节炎。
• He hospitalizes patients for minor ailments. 他把只有小病的患者也送进医院。

7 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。

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

9 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

10 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。

11 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

12 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。

13 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

14 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

15 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。