Part-human embryos. The marvels of genetic engineering.

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Part-human embryos are a chilling step closer as watchdog gives go-ahead for hybrid 'chimeras'By FIONA MACRAE - More by this author » Last updated at 08:13am on 5th September 2007 Comments (12) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=479756 & in_page_id=1770 & in_page_id=1770 & expand=true#StartComments The creation of part-human, part-animal embryos looks set to be approved by the fertility regulator tomorrow. These "hybrid" embryos would be used for research into incurable diseases such as Alzheimer's. The news follows a surprise Government decision not to ban the controversial research. A shortage of human eggs has led two groups of scientists to appeal to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for permission to make hybrid embryos from human skin cells and animal eggs. Scroll down for more... Cows' eggs are most likely to be used, because they are in plentiful supply. Scientists say the creation of hybrid embryos has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of debilitating diseases which affect millions. But opponents believe mixing of human and animal genetic material defies nature. They are also unhappy about the destruction of embryos that such research inevitably entails. The scientists' hopes to use hybrids were initially jeopardised by a proposal to outlaw such research under a shake-up of outdated fertility laws. But in May, Labour ministers dramatically changed their minds. However, only scientists who are researching serious diseases - and are

licensed by the HFEA - will be allowed to carry out such procedures. While the fertility watchdog has yet to rule on the issue, its ethical and scientific experts are in favour of the creation of hybrids. Cows' eggs are likely to be used to make hybrid embryos It will tomorrow rule on the creation of hybrids in principle. But the final go-ahead on the applications submitted by scientists at King's College, London, and the North East Stem Cell Institute in Newcastle will rest with the authority's licence committee which is due to meet in November. Although the embryos are sometimes called chimeras after the monstrous creatures in Greek mythology, they are strictly speaking hybrids rather

than chimeras. Rather than containing two types of cells - one from each "parent" creature - as chimeras do, hybrids have only one type of cell, in which the genetic information from the different species mixes. This summer the HFEA's Scientific and Clinical Advances Group concluded that the creation of hybrids was justified by the lack of human eggs available to researchers. However, the results of a public consultation were mixed. Some 61 per cent backing the creation of hybrid embryos if it would help research into diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. At the same time, almost half of those polled felt the research was "meddling with nature". Scientists last night made a final plea for their research to be given the go-ahead. Dr Stephen Minger, of King's College, acknowledged there was a "yuck factor" but said the work is an essential

part of the quest to treat devastating illnesses. He said: "I can understand why people are freaked out by this, but the embryos will never be implanted and the cells won't be used for therapy - this is about studying the development of diseases in a Petri dish." But Dr David King, who works for research watchdog Human Genetics Alert, said: "We are not a pro-life group but creating embryos purely for the purpose of research turns the embryo into nothing more than a research tool and a source of raw biological material for experiments." The decision makers THE Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is an independent regulator which oversees fertility treatment and embryo research. Its members include ethicists, churchmen and lay people, as well as fertility doctors and scientists. Here are some of the key figures: ˜SHIRLEY HARRISON, the chairman, has a

background in marketing and public relations. She is a magistrate and member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Society of Authors. ˜SHARMILA NEBHRAJANI, the deputy chairman, has been a lay member of the HFEA since 1988. She has experience in management consultancy and is the finance director of the BBC's New Media and Technology arm. ˜ HOSSAM ABDALLA is an experienced gynaecological surgeon and IVF expert, as well as director of the private Lister Fertility Clinic in West London and a former member of the British Fertility Society's executive committee. ˜ DAVID ARCHARD is a professor of philosophy and public policy at Lancaster University. He has written on the philosophy of sexual consent, children, family and the state. ˜ PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER BARRATT is the newly appointed chair of reproductive medicine at Dundee University and the developer of Fertell, ˜LORD HARRIES OF PENTREGARTH was Bishop of Oxford from 1987 to

2006 and chaired the House of Lords select committee on stem cell research. He is also an honorary fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. ˜CLARE BROWN adopted two children in 1985 after unsuccessful fertility treatment. She is also the chief executive of the support group Infertility Network UK. ˜ ANNA CARRAGHER recently retired as controller of BBC Northern Ireland and has worked on news programmes including Today and Newsnight. ˜ SALLY CHESHIRE is a chartered management accountant and a director of Deloitte & Touche. She is also a non-executive director of the North West Strategic Health Authority. ˜ REBEKAH DUNDAS is the manager of a grants team at the Big Lottery Fund and a member of Infertility Network UK. Her son Matthew was born last year following IVF treatment. ˜ RUTH FASHT OBE is a social worker and psychotherapist with a background in adoption. She led the setting up of the Adoption Register for England and Wales. There are also another eight members, mostly doctors and professors who specialise in infertility issues, as well as solicitor Walter Merricks. Comments (12) This research exists for the same reason that abortion clinics exist: to make money, ethics, morals and RISK be damned.- Paul, Bridgewater All medicine and most of science is "meddling with nature". When we get a flu jab we're meddling with nature. Radiotherapy is meddling with nature. That in itself is no good reason not to continue a field of research.Years ago, the idea of using body parts from dead

people was so scary it formed the basis of the horror novel Frankenstein's monster. Today we have organ transplants all the time and nobody bats an eyelid. I believe this area of medical science is still in the "Frankenstein" stage and it will be some time before people feel there was nothing to it after all. In the meantime, this research could have even more benefits than organ transplants. We need this research to continue.- Ramon Casha, Malta Is this how us humans came into existence many moons ago, by outer space beings who have long gone? You never know this time they may come up with a prettier species, and we shall become their forefathers who have long since gone to other realms in outer space?- Margaret Clark, Wales The

fact that this is possible demolishes the creationist theory completely.- Dave, Southampton, UK Excellent news.- Thai, Manchester "But in May, Labour ministers dramatically changed their minds". Can these idiots ever understand or realise what they are deciding on? They seemingly always take the easiest option that does not need any moral or ethical option. They make these decisions under pressure from higher up so that they may remain wallowing in the gravy train that currently is "parliament". One day there will emerge a sub-species of animal with human attributes but lacking human character and judgement, just like their arbiters.- Kathab, Oxford, UK I find the argument that the use of hybrid stem cells is 'meddling with nature' weak and foolish. All medicine, from aspirin to brain surgery, is meddling with nature. I don't believe the hybrid embryos could even be considered human, and I don't fear a mad scientist unleashing a race of genetically modified cow-men on the UK. The lurid and emotive terms used by opponents of this type of research seem more based on pulp science-fiction novels than the real world.- Andrew, Olney, UK Absolutely disgusting - hasn't man created enough problems messing about with nature already?- Freddie, Northants People have commented that we've already tampered with nature by performing normal

operations that nowadays nobody bats an eyelid over.What they fail to understand in this case is that it goes a lot further than just simply replacing an organ, you are in fact creating a new form of life that once it has made its hideous appearance will create far too much morbid fascination for it to ever go away or many more of its type appearing.Once the genie is out the bottle it can't fit back in.- Terry, London, UK Encouring in a way because science is moving forwards. If it meant the end of present-day vivisection then brilliant, but I doubt that it will. There's always the horrible thought lurking in the not-so-distant background that science would be abused, along with the doner animals and we'd end up with just another medical and ethical farce.- Ness, UK It doesn't do to decry 'science fiction' or similar prophetic novels, Brave New World, 1984 and Lord of the flies are all happening now. What next - The Island of Dr Moreau? It does'nt matter how many people disagree with this meddling, or how many ethical committees sit, they do it anyway. (Cloning, GM foods...)- Ge, Darwen Frightening! The recent Foot and Mouth outbreak has shown that "things" can escape from supposedly secure research units. What an awful spectre this conjures up of mutant cells being absorbed by the geberal population. After all nobody has yet come up with an answer as to how or where AIDS originated.Scientists are fiddling with humanity and ought to be stopped, its not just their world, it belongs to everybody.- John, Witney UK"In conclusion, vaccines are a perfect manifestation of everything that is satanic. They represent an adulterous and arrogant tampering with divine creation, based on the intellectual conceit of "perfecting" creation. They are poisonous, containing derivatives from metals such as mercury and aluminum, and from formaldehyde. They are made from the cell lines and viruses of biblically unclean animals such as monkeys, cats, etc. Worst of all, they are made from the cell lines of premeditatedly murdered children. " Bob Sperlazzo Christian Digest 11/29/2002

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