Californians Support Stem Cell Research Measure

California voters sent a clear message in favor of embryonic stem cell research to Washington on Tuesday, backing a bond measure that supports the controversial science and perhaps triggering a research gold rush to the Golden State.

By a 59%-41% ratio, California voters decided Tuesday to provide $3 billion over 10 years to human embryonic stem cell research — trumping a Bush administration policy that limits federal funding.

In backing Proposition 71, voters immediately made the state the world's largest government sponsor of such research, leading to speculation that the measure would trigger a research "brain drain" from other states.

First isolated in 1998, human embryonic stem cells are the master cells that form within the first 14 days after conception, when the embryo is the size of a pinhead. These cells can turn into any tissue in the body.

Scientists hope to harness them to grow replacement tissue to treat spinal cord injuries as well as diabetes and other diseases.

The use of embryonic stem cells in research is linked to the abortion debate because, in the process of...