A federal appeals court ruled Friday that taxpayer dollars can be used to fund embryonic stem cell research.

The 2-1 decision by a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington overturned a judge's ruling from last year that blocked public funding of the research.

The White House praised the decision. All three judges in the case were appointed by Republican presidents.

Pro-life groups oppose embryonic stem cell research because they feel it ends human life.

The stem cells are derived from embryos that are four to five days old, usually leftover from in-vitro fertilization.

*Originally aired on April 29, 2011.