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Missouri to vote on stem cell issue

Oct 05 ,Medicine & Health


Politicians across the United States will be watching Missouri voters next month to see how they vote on a referendum supporting stem cell research.

Although Missouri is the only state with such a question on the Nov. 7 ballot, it is the first time voters are being asked to decide whether to proceed with developing potentially life-saving cures despite the moral concerns of some over the destruction of human embryos, Stateline.org reported.

Although it's the only such referendum on any November ballot, the embryonic stem cell research issue has come up during campaigning across the U.S., with some Republican bucking the Bush administration by supporting the controversial research.

Political observers say the outcome of the Missouri ballot question might influence future federal and state efforts to either block or support the science, Stateline.org said.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

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