UK lawmakers approve embryo research
- added May 20, 2008
- 1 response
-
-
-
-
- ajwashington
- added this
-
-
- related topics
-
- News and Politics (39283)
- News (21497)
- Earth and Science (12524)
- Health (4082)
- Current (2654)
- Collective Journalism (1777)
- Medicine (677)
- Current UK (380)
- Gordon Brown (173)
- Stem Cell Research (27)
- British Parliament (2)
LONDON - British lawmakers voted Monday to approve controversial plans to allow the use of animal-human embryos for research. The proposed laws, the first major review of embryo science in Britain for almost 20 years, have provoked stormy debate — pitting Prime Minister Gordon Brown and scientists against religious leaders, anti-abortion campaigners and a large number of lawmakers.
Brown has said he believes scientists seeking to use mixed animal-human embryos for stem cell research into diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are on a moral mission to improve — and save — millions of lives.
The process involves injecting an empty cow or rabbit egg with human DNA. A burst of electricity is then used to trick the egg into dividing regularly, so that it becomes a very early embryo, from which stem cells can be extracted.
Scientists say the embryos would not be allowed to develop for more than 14 days, and are intended to address the shortage of human embryos available for stem cell research.
By allowing such mixed embryo experiments, Britain is expected to maintain its reputation as a leading center for stem cell research.
Unlike the United States, where such research is tightly controlled, British scientists say the progressive environment in the U.K. has led to many firsts, including the world's first test tube baby and cloned animal.
But opponents warn that an easing of laws on creating the embryos could lead to the genetic engineering of human beings.
Legislators voted 336 to 176 against a proposed ban on research using animal-human embryos and by 286 to 223 against a separate proposal covering a specific type of animal-human embryos.
Human Genetics Alert, a science watchdog in favor of the ban, claims the laws could lead to the creation of genetically modified "designer babies."
"Once we start down the road to human genetic modification, it will be very difficult to turn back," the group warned in a briefing paper for lawmakers.
Brown has said he believes scientists seeking to use mixed animal-human embryos for stem cell research into diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are on a moral mission to improve — and save — millions of lives.
The process involves injecting an empty cow or rabbit egg with human DNA. A burst of electricity is then used to trick the egg into dividing regularly, so that it becomes a very early embryo, from which stem cells can be extracted.
Scientists say the embryos would not be allowed to develop for more than 14 days, and are intended to address the shortage of human embryos available for stem cell research.
By allowing such mixed embryo experiments, Britain is expected to maintain its reputation as a leading center for stem cell research.
Unlike the United States, where such research is tightly controlled, British scientists say the progressive environment in the U.K. has led to many firsts, including the world's first test tube baby and cloned animal.
But opponents warn that an easing of laws on creating the embryos could lead to the genetic engineering of human beings.
Legislators voted 336 to 176 against a proposed ban on research using animal-human embryos and by 286 to 223 against a separate proposal covering a specific type of animal-human embryos.
Human Genetics Alert, a science watchdog in favor of the ban, claims the laws could lead to the creation of genetically modified "designer babies."
"Once we start down the road to human genetic modification, it will be very difficult to turn back," the group warned in a briefing paper for lawmakers.
-
-
-
-
- ajwashington
- 4 months ago
Login/Registration is required to add a response.
