Professor expresses concern over stem cell research

A leading Professor of Molecular Biosciences has expressed concern that “human embryos are being cloned in the UK for the purpose of stem cell research”.

Valerie McKelvey-Martin, a Professor at the University of Ulster, made her remarks as she delivered a lecture on the science of DNA to an audience at the University of Ulster’s Coleraine campus.

At present embryos can be produced and used as a source of stem cells for research up until they are 14 days old in the UK.

“Canada, Germany, France, Australia and Norway have all banned human cloning to make embryos,” she said.

“Many other countries are in the process of issuing legislation to do the same. I’m worried about the status of the early embryo – which is afforded no protection under the current UK regulations. Human embryos are being treated as commodities, rather than as early stage human beings,” she said.

Professor McKelvey-Martin said that there was no scientific need to use human embryos in stem cell research.

“Alternative stem cell sources already exist – they can be obtained from the umbilical cord blood or placenta of newborn infants, or from adults. Stem cell research can be developed without using human embryos as sources of stem cells.

“Use of such alternatives, which do not involve destroying early human life, is to be encouraged.”

In her lecture, which gave a wide-ranging overview of her DNA research work, Professor McKelvey-Martin also gave an insight into work by her and University colleagues at Ulster and Leicester in developing techniques to help people with bladder cancers.

(MB)