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Stem Cell Cause Loses Key Advocate in House

by Jocelyn Kaiser on 15 September 2010, 12:41 PM

Proponents of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research lost a key supporter yesterday when Representative Mike Castle (R–DE) was defeated in the Republican primary race for the U.S. Senate. The former Delaware governor and nine-term member of Congress was running for the Senate seat vacated by Vice President Joe Biden. A heavy favorite, he lost by a 53% to 47% to Tea Party candidate Christine O'Donnell, a marketing consultant whom Biden beat handily in 2008.

The moderate Castle has been co-sponsor with Representative Diana DeGette (D–CO) of a bill to expand federally funded research on hESCs that passed Congress twice but was vetoed by then-President George W. Bush. Although stem cells weren't a major issue in the Delaware race, O'Donnell, an abortion opponent, did criticize Castle for his support of the research. County Executive Chris Coons, who easily won the Democratic nomination for Senate, supports Castle's position on stem cells.

The prospects for stem cell legislation are uncertain.

Continues @ ScienceMag.org

Consequences... consequences..