The Academy of Medical Sciences, a leading British science organization, has called for scientists' right to create animal-human embryos for research. The organization authorized to permit this research, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), launched a public comment period after British scientists proposed inserting human nuclei into unfertilized cow eggs to try to create embryonic stem cells. The use of animal eggs overcomes the need to use unfertilized human eggs, which are in extremely short supply.

The Academy of Medical Sciences launched a study of the issue after the HFEA advised public consultation on the creation of interspecies embryos. The study concluded that such research was “vital for understanding and treating human disease.” Opponents to interspecies hybrids argue that mixing animal and human DNA is unethical or that such research is unlikely to yield useful information.

Current UK law requires scientists to receive a license from the government before starting research with human embryos. Furthermore, no embryo used for research can be allowed to develop for more than two weeks in vitro, and such embryos cannot be implanted into a woman or animal. The Academy concluded that these regulations were sufficient for current proposals both for human embryos incorporating non-human material and for non-human embryos incorporating non-human material.

Martin Bobrow, chair of the group that conducted the study, issued a statement saying “Provided good laboratory practice is rigorously followed, research involving cytoplasmic hybrids or other inter-species embryos offers no significant safety risks over and above regular cell culture research.”

However, the report said that incorporating human embryonic stem cells or human genetic material into non-human animals would likely require additional regulation at some point in the future.

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