Cash blow hits stem cell work

Jan 14 2009 by Paul James, The Journal

Bitter debate on hybrid embryos

THE hybrid embryos were one of the most controversial aspects of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, and were opposed by religious groups and many MPs.

They caused a long and bitter debate in both the House of Commons, where a bid to outlaw the research was defeated in May last year, and in the courts.

The hybrid embryos – in which the nuclei of human cells are inserted into animal eggs – have been seen as one of the most promising ways of overcoming the shortage of good-quality human eggs.

The stem cells then extracted from the embryos – which are some 99% human and 0.1% animal – have the potential to become any kind of tissue and as such could be used to develop new medical treatments.

MPs were allowed to vote on the issue according to their consciences, rejecting a ban on the hybrids by 286 to 223. Last month the groups Comment on Reproductive Ethics and the Christian Legal Centre were refused permission to bring a test case judicial review. The campaigners wanted to overturn the decision to grant the research licences, claiming the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority had acted irrationally and outside its powers.

But the judge ruled their challenge was unarguable and that it was Parliament’s will such research should be licensed.