UK closer to stem cell research
2008-10-22 21:10
London - British plans to allow scientists to use hybrid animal-human embryos for stem cell research was likely to get final approval from lawmakers on Wednesday in a sweeping overhaul of sensitive science laws.
The House of Commons will also vote on whether to sanction the creation of babies genetically matched to sick siblings.
Legislators were deciding on authorising the proposals after months of sometimes bitter debate that has pitted Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government and scientists against religious leaders, anti-abortion campaigners and others anxious about medical advances.
Brown says he believes scientists seeking to use mixed animal-human embryos for stem cell research into diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's will help improve - and save - millions of lives.
The new laws will also clarify rules on cases where parents seek to have a child with specific characteristics - such as a blood type - to help a diseased older sibling through tissue or organ donation.
Decisions by Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to allow the practice have previously been vulnerable to challenges in court.
Lawmakers have already endorsed the individual proposals, but will vote on the complete draft bill.
Debating draft laws
"One in seven couples need help with fertility treatment, 350 000 people live with Alzheimer's, every week there are five children born and three young people die from cystic fibrosis - all issues that this bill addresses," Health Minister Dawn Primarolo told lawmakers, opening a debate on the draft laws.
Britain's government opted not to allow legislators to use the debate to consider the country's abortion laws - last drafted in 1990 - frustrating hopes of both anti-abortion lawmakers and those seeking to liberalise current regulations.
Ministers said lawmakers needed to focus on important revisions to rules governing stem cell research and other scientific advances, rather than examine the emotive issue of abortion - which isn't covered by the draft laws.
Brown is a strong advocate of stem cell science and has said Britain owes it to future generations to support the research. Opponents warn an easing of laws on creating embryos could lead to the genetic engineering of human beings.
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.
- AP