Creation of Human 'She-Males' Sparks Outrage

July 4, 2003

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MADRID (Reuters) - Scientists in the United States have created hybrid human

" she-males, " mixing male and female cells in the same embryo, outraging

fertility experts and anti-abortionists.

Dr. Norbert Gleicher of the Foundation for Reproductive Medicine in Chicago and

a colleague injected male cells into female embryos in research which they

believe could lead to better treatments or cures for single gene disorders.

But their work provoked revulsion when they presented it to the annual meeting

of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

" There are very good reasons why this type of research is generally rejected by

the international research community, " Dr. Francoise Shenfield of ESHRE said on

Wednesday.

" I cannot conceive of any situation in which this particular technique would be

acceptable, and if it cannot be applied there is not much use in experimenting

with it, " she added.

Gleicher and his colleague used male cells because they were easier to track as

they studied the development of the embryos up to six days.

Their work also sparked outrage from abortion opponents who described it as

run-away science.

" This is gross manipulation of human life, " said Nuala Scarisbrick of British

anti-abortion charity Life.

" The creation of a 'she-male' is disgusting, but not surprising. "

Gleicher's study was not the only research presented during the four-day

conference which enraged pro-life groups.

An Israeli scientist who said eggs retrieved from aborted fetuses could relieve

the worldwide shortage of human eggs for fertility treatments also stoked fears

that science was advancing before legal and ethical consequences could be

considered.

07/02/03 13:04

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