Posted on 05/17/2007 7:58:14 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever
THE way was cleared today for scientists to conduct experiments using hybrid animal-human embryos after the UK Government bowed to a storm of protest from researchers who said a proposed ban could hurt British science.
The Department of Health said it would accept a recommendation from the Commons Science and Technology Committee that inter-species embryos could be created for research.
Scientists want to use the hybrid embryos to find cures for illnesses such as Parkinson's, stroke and Alzheimer's.
In December, the Government had proposed a ban on creating the hybrid embryos, due to what it called "considerable public unease," with the door left open for later regulations that could allow such research under licence.
The change comes after sustained pressure from scientists and politicians who argued the hybrid embryos would help overcome a shortage of human eggs for research.
Researchers currently rely on human eggs left over from fertility treatments, but these are in short supply.
The hybrid embryos, which would be destroyed within 14 days, would be more than 99 per cent human but would contain a small amount of animal DNA.
Scientists say that any imposition of a ban would see research in other countries, such as China and Canada, overtake Britain.
The Government made its announcement as it published its draft Human Tissues and Embryos Bill.
The draft legislation as written still bars the creation of inter-species embryos, with the Government leaving it to a committee of MPs due to scrutinise the Bill to find the best way of allowing the research.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
The first kind of hybrid allowed under the bill, known as a chimeric embryo, is made by injecting cells from an animal into a human embryo.
The second, known as a human transgenic embryo, involves injecting animal DNA into a human embryo.
The third, known as a cytoplasmic hybrid, is created by transferring the nuclei of human cells into animal eggs from which almost all the genetic material has been removed.
I notice, moreover, that the law says they can't implant these embryos in the womb of a human mother. But it didn't say anything about not implanting them into the uteri of monkeys, cows, or pigs.
Words fail me.
Geez-—this is going to blow animal rights in a whole different direction.
Been there done that, look at Congress and hear the sheep bleats.
Thanks Mrs. Don-o,I am going to find out more about this today.
Any ‘public unease’ about the process is born out of ignorance and stupidity.
“And we could eat our young like guppies do...WTF kind of thinking is this?”
WTF Mate?
If we can create these embryo’s to perform ground breaking medical research in the effort to defeat degenerative diseases then I am all for it. Ignorance and the idea of the unknown is what is scaring you, and I mean that in the best way. I wold rather we test of non-sentient matter in order to cure or assist sentient beings of some of the most debilitating illnesses mankind has had to counter.
Without the desire to progress and make the world a better place for our grandchildren to live in, then we find ourselves failing to use the greatest instrument that nature has provided for us, our inquisitive mind.
Didn’t they see “The Island of Dr. Moreau” ????
Are we talking the inquisitive mind of a Joseph Mengele here? ( lets freeze the jews and study the results)
Or the inqusitive mind of a Pol Pot ( lets empty the cities and see how they do as farmers)?
Inquiring minds want to know.
They’ll eat your lungs out, Jim.
Can’t seem to cut and paste, but on pge 115 of the draft bill
The bill states that they are to destroy the embryos after the appearance of the primitive streak (when cells begin to divide); 14 days after the beginning of the process to make the chimeric embryo; half the gestation period of any of the species involved
whichever of the three occurs earliest
On what planet is valid scientific research being conducted on EMBYRO’S the same as Mengele or Pol Pot? Thats right, the one you’re on, way out past the Kuiper Belt.
The is a difference between an insane, mad-as-a-bottle-of-chips, one-slice-short-of-a-loaf, one-sandwich-short-of-a-picknick, tyrannical, crackpot, Pol Potesque, nutter, and a scientist trying to cure serious diseases that blight the world.
Think of the MILLIONS of suffers with Alzheimer’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Atherosclerosis, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Norrie disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Prostatitis, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis who with the advent of genetic research, can find new paths and methods to combat these illnesses, so that our children, and their children, can live long, and full lives. Now tell me that what I have just described makes me sound like Pol Pot. I’ll get you for defamation of character if you do ;)
” I’ll get you for defamation of character if you do”.
Sounds like somebody is trying to come up with an end-run around the anti-slavery statutes.
Hot Mama Llama
Gosh I thought that site was real until I tried to order the permapuppy:)
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