Animal-Human Hybrids Research Approved in U.K.

David Stringer in London
Associated Press

Updated May 20, 2008

British lawmakers voted on Monday to approve controversial plans to allow the use of human-animal hybrid embryos for stem cell research.

The changes provoked a stormy debate, pitting Prime Minister Gordon Brown and scientists against religious leaders, pro-life campaigners, and a large section of lawmakers.

Prime Minister Brown has said he believes scientists seeking to use human-animal hybrid embryos to treat diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are on a moral mission to improve and possibly save millions of lives.

By allowing hybrid embryo experiments, British officials hope to maintain the U.K.'s reputation as a leading center for stem cell research.

British scientists say the country's progressive environment has led to many firsts, such as the first test-tube baby and the world's first cloned animal.

"I believe that we owe it to ourselves and future generations to introduce these measures, and in particular, to give our unequivocal backing within the right framework of rules and standards, to stem cell research," Brown wrote in an op-ed piece on Sunday for Britain's The Observer newspaper.

But opposition Conservative lawmaker Edward Leigh, who tabled an amendment seeking to ban the practice, said the technique was a step too far for science.

"In many ways we are like children playing with land mines without any concept of the dangers of the technology that we are handling," he said in the House of Commons.

Hybrid Cells

Creating hybrid embryos involves injecting an empty cow or rabbit egg with human DNA.

A burst of electricity is then used to "trick" the egg into dividing regularly, so that it becomes a very early embryo from which stem cells can be extracted.

Scientists say the embryos would not be allowed to develop for more than 14 days and are intended to address the shortage of traditional human embryos available for stem cell research.

Ann Widdecombe, an opposition Conservative lawmaker, said there is no proof that hybrid embryo research could help treat diseases that currently have no cure.

"There is no evidence at all that it will save millions of lives," Widdecombe told Britain's GMTV.

Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell biologist at the U.K.'s National Institute for Medical Research, said that greater understanding of genetic diseases at the cellular level could speed the development of treatments.

"We have to be careful not to overhype it, because we can't promise anything will work," he said.

"But if it does work then there will be a lot more understanding. More understanding is crucial to developing new treatments."

Still other opponents warn that an easing of laws on creating hybrid embryos could lead to genetic engineering of human beings.

Human Genetics Alert, a science watchdog group that opposes the changes, says the laws could lead to the creation of so-called designer babies.

"Once we start down the road to human genetic modification, it will be very difficult to turn back," the group warns in a briefing paper for lawmakers.

Savior Siblings

The newly changed law is part of the first major review of embryo science in the U.K. for almost 20 years.

Britain's Human Fertilization and Embryology law, which regulates all stem cell and embryology research, was drafted in 1990.

Debates taking place in the House of Commons today will include the first major vote on revising British abortion laws since then.

Opposition party chief David Cameron and several cabinet ministers advocate a lowering of the 24-week limit for abortions in Britain.

Legislators will vote today on whether to retain the current limit or lower it to 22, 20, or 16 weeks.

Lawmakers will also vote on whether to fully authorize the screening of embryos for genetic characteristics to create so-called savior siblings.

These are cases where parents seek to have a child with specific nondiseased characteristics so that he or she can donate tissues or organs to a diseased older sibling.

The proposed laws are in line with the latest scientific developments and would provide Britain's Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority with clearer guidelines.

The decisions are currently vulnerable to challenges in court, Lovell-Badge said.

In addition, lawmakers will decide on proposals to end the requirement for in-vitro fertilization clinics to consider the need for a child to have a father when evaluating patients.

Advocates say the change is necessary to enable lesbian couples and single women to gain easier access to fertility treatment.

But opponents insist the change fails to acknowledge the role of a father in a child's life.

Brown has said he will allow his Labor Party lawmakers to vote as they wish on the three controversial sections.

Three Catholic cabinet members—including Defense Secretary Des Browne—and about nine junior ministers are believed to have reservations about some aspects of the plans.