The controversy over human embryonic stem cell research was a policy one more than a science one; with so many diverse scientists there had to be an ethical standard created by society, just like with animal testing and the environment.
Since the introduction of the 2008 Human Fertilisation Embryology Act in the UK, with standards much looser than the US and most of Europe, 155 ‘admixed’ embryos, containing both human and animal genetic material, have been created according to the Daily Mail.
King’s College London, Newcastle University and Warwick University created the embryos but that work has now stopped due to a lack of funding, they say. Is it a concern? Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, lead author of the report from the Medical Research Council’ s National Institute for Medical Research, said reaction was overblown because human-animal hybrid embryos have to be destroyed within 14 days. However, he called for stricter controls on another type of embryo research, in which animal embryos are implanted with a small amount of human genetic material.
