U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the Obama administration's move this year to ease federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, the AP/Seattle Times reports. In its lawsuit, Nightlight Christian Adoptions alleged that the new federal guidelines would reduce the availability of human embryos for adoptions. However, Lamberth noted that people still could decide if they want to store the embryos or give them to an adoption agency, instead of donating them for research. Lamberth also said that potential embryo donors would have to choose to donate their embryos for research, rather than for adoption, for the agency to have grounds to sue. Ron Stoddart, executive director of the California-based agency, said the organization is considering an appeal (AP/Seattle Times, 10/27).

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