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September 04, 2007

The Island of Doctor Moreau

I'm a supporter of science, but this creeps too close to the edge of ethics

Plans to allow British scientists to create human-animal embryos are expected to be approved tomorrow by the government's fertility regulator. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority published its long-awaited public consultation on the controversial research yesterday, revealing that a majority of people were "at ease" with scientists creating the hybrid embryos.
Which people?
The consultation, a £150,000, three-month mix of opinion polls, public meetings and debates, found participants were initially cautious of merging animal and human material, but became more positive. "When further factual information was provided and further discussion took place, the majority of participants became more at ease with the idea," the HFEA's report says.

Most support was expressed for the creation of so-called cytoplasmic hybrid embryos, in which a human cell is inserted into an empty animal egg. Other hybrid embryos, such as those created by fertilising an animal egg with human sperm, or vice versa, were less well supported.

Certainly the latter hybrids are the stuff of horror novels. Could we have some numbers here?

Let's just say I'm uncomfortable with the blithe assurances that no hybrid embryos will be allowed to survive past the 14 day mark.

Posted by Darleen at September 4, 2007 06:26 AM

Comments

It is strange. Makes you wonder what might be going on in countries with absolutely no restrictions on this kind of thing.

Posted by: Carl W. Goss at September 6, 2007 10:39 AM