WASHINGTON — The government is creating a master list of which embryonic stem cells qualify for taxpayer-funded research, now that President Barack Obama has lifted restrictions on the field.

The National Institutes of Health has issued research rules that, as expected, require the research to use cells culled from fertility clinic embryos that otherwise would be thrown away. But scientists had feared many of the hundreds of existing stem cell lines wouldn't qualify because of strict new requirements for how scientists seek donation of the original embryo.

The NIH said it will allow old lines if scientists can prove they met the spirit of those requirements, and an NIH registry will list all those deemed eligible.