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Britain's
embryology regulators have approved in principle the creation of
embryos by injecting human DNA into empty animal egg cells. Researchers
are hoping to use the technique to generate human stem cells without
relying on a supply of donated human eggs.
Advocates
of the technology have welcomed the decision by the Human Fertilisation
and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to allow the technique, which they hope
will aid the search for treatments of diseases such as Parkinson's and
motor neurone disease.
The
decision comes 10 months after two British research groups applied for
permission to begin using the method. They are now expected to have
their licences granted in November.
"We
applaud the HFEA for their decision and look forward to the decision
from the licensing committee on our applications in November," says
Stephen Minger of King's College London, one of the researchers who
have applied to use the technique.
The
embryos - called 'cybrid' embryos because they are not true hybrids but
rather contain human DNA with cell cytoplasm from animals - could yield
stem cells containing the donor DNA of patients with a range of
diseases.
Minger
argues that the use of empty animal eggs is currently the only ethical
way to generate these stem cells, because the technique requires many
egg cells that would otherwise have to be gathered from human egg
donations.
"Sound decision"
Royal
Society president Martin Rees called the move "a sound decision based
on the views gathered from both scientists and the wider public",
adding that "we can be hopeful that our understanding of diseases will
be furthered as a result of today's decision".
The
HFEA's move follows a public consultation in which 61% of the public
were in favour of the procedure "if it may help to understand some
diseases, for example Parkinson's and motor neurone disease". Of the
roughly 2,000 respondents, 25% were against the technology on ethical
grounds.
Parliamentary science watchdogs have also staunchly backed
the technology, after the government threatened in December last year
to ban all work with hybrid embryos. In May, however, the government
performed a U-turn and now looks set to legislate in favour of a
limited range of hybrid-embryo research techniques.
The
ruling cements Britain's reputation as a pioneer of embryological
research. Australia, Canada and the United States have all banned the
creation of hybrid embryos, whereas politicians in other countries have
not yet specifically addressed the issue.
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