While I supported the Bush administration’s foreign policies for the most part, one of the biggest disagreements I had with them was their blatant bias against scientific research; and one of the best examples of that bias was their opposition to stem cell research, an opposition based entirely on irrational religious objections from the far right. So I’m very pleased to see the news that for the first time in years, a new line of embryonic stem cells has been approved for US researchers.

Dec. 2 (Bloomberg) — Thirteen embryonic stem-cell lines were approved for use by U.S.-funded researchers today, the first of hundreds of new cell colonies that may become available under new polices promised by President Barack Obama.

Stem cells taken from days-old human embryos can be kept alive indefinitely in solution, and have the ability to turn into about 200 cell types in the body. Use of these so-called stem lines is opposed by some people because extracting them destroys the embryos. The stem-cell expansion was announced today by Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, in a telephone briefing with reporters.

Another 20 lines may be approved as soon as Dec. 4, the first of “a wave” of approvals that could make hundreds available, Collins said. Obama pledged to end U.S. stem-cell restrictions during his presidential campaign. Congress twice voted to overturn the limits, put in place by President George W. Bush, and Bush vetoed both measures.

“With these restrictions now being lifted, we can now compete, hopefully, with the U.K. and some of the other foreign governments that are running with us,” said Robert Lanza, chief scientific officer of Worcester, Massachusetts-based Advanced Cell Technology Inc., in a telephone interview today. “It would be good for us to be back in the game.”