Britain considers restricting stem cell research (AP/CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

LONDON, England (AP) -- British scientists warn that an impending government decision that may ban research to create human embryos from animal eggs will jeopardize finding a cure for diseases such as Alzheimer's and spinal muscular atrophy.

Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the country's independent regulator of fertility and embryo research, is set to announce on Thursday whether such procedures should be permitted. Similar research is currently ongoing in China and the United States.

Scientists in Britain, which has traditionally been a world leader in stem cell and cloning research, say they have been informally told that their license applications are unlikely to be approved. The agency said it would not comment until a decision is made. (Watch ethical debate over hybrid research Video)

In a paper published last month by Britain's Department of Health on proposed revisions to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology act, which covers stem cell research, the government proposed outlawing the creation of hybrid embryos combining human and animal genetic material. Current restrictions on this practice, according to the report, are based on public concerns.

Some experts questioned whether residual animal traces might contaminate human DNA, thus invalidating the stem cell experiments.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/01/05/stem.cells.ap/index.html

[Kagemusha]

1. A country that can't stand too much success.

It's putting the US to shame. Literally. Can't have that.

[dipsydoodle]

2. This link should take you into the BBC News video

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/ukfs_news/hi/bb_rm_fs.stm?news=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&nol_storyid=6233093&checkedBandwidth=bb&checkedMedia=ram&subtitles=hide&alreadySeen=1

If that don't work go here and scroll down to Video and Audio News and you'll find the link there which you can tailor to your connection speed. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/default.stm

On our news yesterday they mentioned rabbits and humans - honest. I though maybe they were going to produce Bunny Girls. :rofl:

[eppur_se_muova]

3. "Bunny Girls"? I admit I am intrigued. nt