RIVER WEST: "HUMAN-ANIMAL" EMBRYO RESEARCH

River West has written another very interesting blog at Senator Bill Frist's site Volpac. As always, River gives us a lot of things to think about.

“HUMAN-ANIMAL” EMBRYO RESEARCH
acceptable or no?

Agreeing in principle at least Regulators have decided to allow human-animal embryos to be created and used for research. I am wondering how citizens feel about these new developments.

Scientists wanting to use hybrids would still need to make individual applications with the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HEFA) it says. 2 teams from England’s Kings College London and Newcastle University have already applied to the HFEA to use hybrid embryos.

An HFEA consultation shows a wider majority of the public favoring the idea when told it could pave the way for therapies for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease than those opposing the idea. Opponents have said many people still would be quite horrified by such a plan.

Scientists want to create hybrid embryos by merging human cells with animal eggs in a bid to extract stem cells. The cells form the basic building blocks of the body and have the potential to become any tissue making them essential for research. The embryos would then be destroyed within 14 days.

At the moment scientists have to rely on human eggs left over from fertility treatment but they are not always good quality and now in short supply. Here is a look at what a few other countries around the world have legislated.

USA - Federal funds can only be used for research involving pre-existing embryos - such as those left over from fertility treatment - and there is a ban on hybrid embryos

Australia - Embryos allowed to be created for research, but human-animal hybrids banned. The only exception is to test the quality of sperm

Canada - Legislation bans the creation of human-animal embryos

Elsewhere - Other countries do not specifically legislate on hybrid embryos. But Italy and Germany only allow the use of pre-existing embryos and many others including Austria, Norway and Tunisia do not allow embryo research at all.

As Liberals say they will bring stem cell and human animal embryo research up for a vote again I think we all want to stay apprised of their intentions. You can by clicking below (or copy/paste to your browser) and selecting Health Care updates to be sent directly to you via email.

Written by river west, iFrist Volunteer Leader

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