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Scientists await fertility bill Ministers bow to hybrid pressure
(about 23 hours later)
A draft bill setting out reform of the UK's laws on assisted reproduction is being published later. Ministers have bowed to pressure to allow the creation of human animal hybrid embryos for research.
Scientists are waiting to hear if the government has softened its plans to ban the use of human-animal hybrid embryos in research. When the ban was proposed last year there were fears among scientists it would hamper medical breakthroughs.
The move was touted in a White Paper published last year. Hybrid embryos will only be allowed for research into serious disease and scientists will require a licence.
The bill is expected to propose scrapping the requirement for fertility clinics to consider the need for a father when deciding on treatment. Scientists welcomed the proposals put forward in the draft fertility bill, but opponents questioned the ethics of using human cells in this way.
This research is important because these stem cell lines could help us to understand what goes wrong in catastrophic neurological disorders Dr Stephen MingerKing's College London Hybrids
This means clinics will no longer be able to deny treatment to lesbians and single mothers out of hand. Public Health Minister Caroline Flint denied that the government had staged a climbdown, saying they had always wanted to "leave the door open" for this type of research to be allowed on a case-by-case basis.
She said scientists had put forward more evidence about the importance of using hybrid embryos.
We saw this was an area where these could be used for scientific benefit Public Health Minister Caroline Flint
"We saw this was an area where these could be used for scientific benefit."
The draft bill allows the creation of human embryos that have been physically mixed with one or more animal cells. However, true animal-animal hybrids, made by the fusion of sperm and eggs, remain outlawed.
And in all cases it would be illegal to allow embryos to grow for more than 14 days or be implanted into a womb.
Scientists say their work could help find cures for devastating diseases, such as Alzheimer's.
Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, head of the division of Developmental Genetics at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, said: "This research has many potential benefits for the understanding of disease and for treatments and should not be feared."
PROPOSALS 'Need for the father' removedWelfare of the child checks retainedSex-selection for non-medical reasons bannedStatutory storage period for embryos extended from five to 10 yearsDonors informed if their child is seeking identifying information about themParenthood provisions for civil partners and other same-sex couplesScreening embryos for serious medical conditions and as a suitable tissue match permitted Deliberately screening-in a disease or disorder, such as if two deaf parents wished to have a deaf child, bannedUp to a year 'cooling off' period if consent to embryo storage by one of the couple involved is withdrawnDonor-conceived children allowed to find out if they have sisters or brothers also conceived through donation, when they reach 18
But Josephine Quintavalle, of the campaign group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, disagreed, saying: "It is appalling that the government has bowed to pressure from the random collection of self-interested scientists and change its prohibitive stance.
"This is a highly controversial and terrifying proposal, which has little justification in science and even less in ethics.
"Endorsement by the UK government will elicit horror in Europe and right across the wider world."
The government signalled its intentions in December's White Paper, which contained 25 proposals to overhaul the current laws.The government signalled its intentions in December's White Paper, which contained 25 proposals to overhaul the current laws.
Ministers felt the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 needed to be updated as science has moved on significantly.Ministers felt the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 needed to be updated as science has moved on significantly.
Launching the White Paper, Health Minister Caroline Flint said: "The current law, which has served us well, is in need of revision. The draft bill also proposes scrapping the requirement for clinics to consider the need for a father when deciding on treatment.
"Technology has changed, and so have attitudes." This means clinics will no longer be able to deny treatment to lesbians and single mothers out of hand.
Raft of measures Another proposal is to merge the regulatory bodies the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Tissue Authority to form a single regulatory body called RATE.
Among the other proposals contained in the White Paper were: The British Medical Association, however, believes this is a bad idea.
  • Both partners in same-sex couples using IVF to conceive should be legally recognised as parents.
It says the complex and sensitive issues that surround reproduction and embryo research are very different from those relating to the retention and use of organs and tissues after death and, therefore, would be too much for one new body to oversee.
  • A ban on couples choosing the sex of their baby for non-medical reasons, such as "family balancing".
  • Screening embryos for serious medical conditions and as a suitable tissue match permitted.
  • Statutory storage period for embryos extended from five to 10 years.
  • Up to a year "cooling off" period if consent to embryo storage by one of the couple involved is withdrawn.
  • Regulation of internet sperm services.
  • While the White Paper proposed banning scientists from creating hybrid embryos, it did not rule out such research in the future.
    And it has been reported that the proposed ban may be scrapped in the face of opposition from scientists, albeit with tight controls in place.
    Scientists argued a ban could seriously delay development of treatments for life-threatening illnesses.
    However, opponents question the ethics of using human cells in this way.
    Dr Stephen Minger, director of Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, King's College London, said: "We are optimistic the government will have listened to all the evidence from the science and technology select committee, and from the scientists themselves, and will err on the side of reason by allowing the science to be regulated not legislated.
    "This research is important because these stem cell lines could help us to understand what goes wrong in catastrophic neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease."