May 22, 2008

Hybrid embryos get the go ahead

Scientists in the UK will now be able to carry out research into such debilitating illnesses as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s by using embryos which are hybrids between human and animal.

This has been a controversial subject which has provoked many arguments coming from many different sources; however the bill allowing this to happen has now been passed by parliament.

As such the hybrids will only be used for a maximum of fourteen days; however it is illegal for the hybrid embryo to be transferred into the body of an animal or human.

There is another group of people who will be welcoming this work, those who suffer from Motor Neuron disease, the use of these hybrid embryos could lead to a treatment for this problem too and many others which have not even been discussed yet.

Source [Times]