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Part-human embryos are a chilling step closer as watchdog gives go-ahead for hybrid 'chimeras'
Last updated at 00:22am on 04.09.07The 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.
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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scientists' hopes to use hybrids were initially jeopardised by a proposal to outlaw such research under a shake-up of outdated fertility laws.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.
f.macrae@dailymail.co.uk
Reader views (5)
I am a scifi fantasy writer I have allways wonderd if this research could lead to people having thieir life extended with the input of say tortoise dna, or would
people have other traits implanted in them say to make them stronger run faster, would this develop into a business of designer babie,s this could well happen.
Would the chimera if born be considerd human or have rights as a normal person, would a sub human group be created for war like in tank girl.
This could be used for evil, like the nazi,s in germany tryed out eugenics on the jews, this must be regulated, but nor should these questions be ignored because this research will happen anyway, humans are evolving at a slowed rate, and man will try to improve himself however he might give him a genetic advantage.
- Olly, London
A human embryo, at any stage of development, is just that...a human. Killing it in the name of research would be no different than killing an hour old newborn.
- Staci Weinrich, Port Charlotte, FL, United States
I recently read Michael Crichton's novel, Next. It is about genetics, chimeras, etc. Fascinating reading. For example a parrot chimera looks and acts exactly like just a parrot except it can talk full sentences, not just repeating and actually thinking like us. It's an amazing concept. I think this is a good idea to go forward with human/animal embryo research. A number of my family members had/have Parkinson's disease, currently including my father. The research will be too late for him as he is 88 and was diagnosed over 20 years ago. It is a physically dibilitating disease. I just hope that my brother and I don't get it also.
- Keke, Ft. lauderdale, fl, USA
What if, the cow selected has mad cow disease? It could happen.
- Rhonda H, Carson City, NV USA
It's meddling with nature that allowed us to become the advanced civilization that we are now. It's a few cells, not a developing human being, nor a mutant animal.
- Bunners, Tucson, AZ; United States
