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05/09/2007
Regulator Gives Green Light To Use Of Human-Animal Embryos
The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has agreed in principal to the use of human-animal embryos in research.
The embryos would be created by merging human cells with animal eggs in order to generate stem cells, which could help in research to find cures for currently incurable diseases such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists would have to destroy the embryos within 14 days and would be banned from implanting them in a womb.
The HFEA held a public consultation which found that the majority of people were at ease with the idea of their use.
Two teams from Kings College London and Newcastle University have already applied to use the embryos for research.
Individual hearings for each of the applications are expected to be held in November.
However, the research has proved controversial. Dr Helen Watts from the Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics told Sky News that human conception was "very special" and should be kept separate from animal reproduction. She said that the embryos would be created for "destructive experiments" and would be demeaned further by having a "non-human parent".
Josephine Quintavalle, from the Comment on Reproductive Ethics, told the BBC that the use of the embryos "offends the dignity of humans and animals" and said that many people would be "horrified" if scientists were allowed to use them.
(KMcA/SP)
The embryos would be created by merging human cells with animal eggs in order to generate stem cells, which could help in research to find cures for currently incurable diseases such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists would have to destroy the embryos within 14 days and would be banned from implanting them in a womb.
The HFEA held a public consultation which found that the majority of people were at ease with the idea of their use.
Two teams from Kings College London and Newcastle University have already applied to use the embryos for research.
Individual hearings for each of the applications are expected to be held in November.
However, the research has proved controversial. Dr Helen Watts from the Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics told Sky News that human conception was "very special" and should be kept separate from animal reproduction. She said that the embryos would be created for "destructive experiments" and would be demeaned further by having a "non-human parent".
Josephine Quintavalle, from the Comment on Reproductive Ethics, told the BBC that the use of the embryos "offends the dignity of humans and animals" and said that many people would be "horrified" if scientists were allowed to use them.
(KMcA/SP)
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UK signs agreement to tackle animal disease outbreaks
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