[tt] UK allows animal-human embryos for experimentation

[Hughes, James J.]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article2554301.ece 

Ban lifted to allow animal-human embryos

By PA

Published: 17 May 2007

A major shift of position by ministers today cleared the way for
scientists to create hybrid animal-human embryos for stem cell research.

The move followed a White Paper proposal banning the hybrids that
attracted criticism from scientists, charities, patient groups and MPs.

Today the Government published a draft Bill that effectively sweeps away
the ban. Under the Human Tissue and Embryos Bill, scientists will be
allowed to produce "cytoplasmic" hybrid embryos that are 99.9% human and
0.1% animal.

The Bill goes further and permits human embryos to be altered by the
introduction of animal DNA.

Health Minister Caroline Flint, the Bill's chief architect, denies that
the Government had staged a climbdown.

She said that while recommending a "general prohibition", the White
Paper had always left the door open for specific research to be allowed
on a case-by-case basis.

But the immediate ban called for by the White Paper has now been
removed.

The Bill also allows human-animal chimeras - human embryos that have
been physically mixed with one or more animal cells.

True animal-animal hybrids, creatures "bred" by the fusion of sperm and
eggs, remain outlawed.

In all cases it would be illegal to allow embryos to grow for more than
14 days or be implanted into a womb.

Technically, the Bill faces a further hurdle in the form of a
pre-legislative scrutiny committee before being finalised. However, this
is mainly to resolve technical issues and is not likely to result in any
significant changes.

Cytoplasmic embryos made using eggs from rabbits or cows and genetic
material from human donors could provide scientists with a plentiful
supply of stem cells for research into diseases and new treatments.

Two teams of British scientists from London and Newcastle have already
sought permission to create animal-human hybrids for this purpose.

Amid the controversy, their application has been put on hold by the
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority which regulates embryo
research.

Speaking at a briefing at the Department of Health in London, Ms Flint
said the debate had moved on in the last few months, making the
scientific issues clearer.

She said: "I honestly don't see this as a back flip... it was an
evaluation of a number of different view points.

"Our position was not to stop this research but to be clear that it's
sensitive research, and we have to be sure about what we're going to
permit to happen in the future.

"The position was a general prohibition, but with the opportunity on a
case-by-case basis for certain types of research to take place".