Unprecedented Support For Creating Human-Animal Hybrids
Pastor Dale Morgan
Unprecedented Support For Creating Human-Animal Hybrids*
Apr 8th, 2007 2:17 PM
Unprecedented Support For Creating Human-Animal HybridsStrong support
from MPs for human-animal embryo tests
By Clive Cookson, Science Editor
An unprecedented show of support for experiments to create hybrid
human-animal embryos for stem-cell research was delivered by MPs,
charities and patient groups last night.
The Commons science and technology committee said proposals in a white
paper last December to ban the creation of hybrid embryos were
"unacceptable and potentially harmful to British science".
At the same time, 223 medical charities and patient groups - a larger
coalition than on any previous issue - released a joint letter to the
prime minister supporting the MPs' conclusions and voicing "growing
disquiet" about the government's position.
"It is essential to heed the views of researchers tasked with
unravelling and treating disease," it said "They highlight the need for
this work because of the shortage of human eggs for medical research and
because they see it as a vital avenue of inquiry which could greatly
increase our understanding of serious medical conditions and ultimately
lead to new treatments."
Hybrid embryos are made through an adaptation of the cloning technique
first used 10 years ago to create Dolly the sheep. Scientists transfer
the nucleus from a mature human cell to an "empty" rabbit or cow egg
whose own nucleus has been removed. They then stimulate this
human-animal egg to grow into an early embryo from which stem cells can
be cultured. The embryo is not allowed to grow further.
Phil Willis, who chairs the committee, said hybrid embryo research was
the most significant scientific issue that had arisen during the current
parliament.
"This is a test of the government's commitment to science," said Mr
Willis, a Liberal Democrat. "The draft tissue and embryos bill [due to
be published next month] will determine whether Britain remains ahead of
the world in stem cell research."
The health department, which drew up the white paper and is drafting the
bill, was the focus of the criticism. It said: "Whilst we have proposed
an initial ban in general terms, we recognise that there may be
potential benefits from such research and are certainly not 'closing the
door' to it."
The MPs were also critical of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology
Authority for "delaying the start of this important research". The
regulator decided in January not to consider the first two applications
- submitted by Newcastle University and King's College London - until
the autumn, after it had carried out a public consultation and agreed
its own policy.
In response, the authority said it was "dealing with these matters with
due speed and process".
The BioIndustry Association agreed the issue was a test for science
policy. "It is important to safeguard the UK's position as a
world-leading environment for cutting-edge research in bioscience," it said.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007