News

Controversy over proposals to create hybrid human-animal embryos as part of stem-cell research (see previous news story) continues as the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) considers whether it has the authority to assess the two applications made for licences to produce such hybrid embryos, and whether the proposed research is even legal. As part of the recent White Paper reviewing the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (see previous news story), the government has proposed that the creation of human-animal hybrids or chimeras should be outlawed, partly in response to public opinion weighted against the process. Scientists behind the licence applications to the HFEA, who hope to circumvent the acute shortage of human oocytes for the creation of embryonic stem cells by using animal oocytes fused with human genetic material, have accused the Authority of “bowing to government pressure” should it fail to consider the applications, and are presenting the proposed work as an essential step forward in the development of stem-cell based therapies for serious diseases such as Parkinson’s and Motor Neurone disease.

An HFEA spokesman said that: "We need to decide whether the law prohibits this research, whether it falls under our remit at all, and then we can look at whether we have a fundamental view on this type of research” (see BBC news report). The HFEA is due to make a policy decision on the licensing of human-animal embryo research on 10^th January, and issue a statement the following day.