Immoral to prevent medical benefit because of 'yuk' factor - HARRIS

11.04.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 6th Nov 2006

Responding to the news that researchers are seeking permission to create cloned embryos using rabbit eggs and human nuclear material, Dr Evan Harris Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon said:

"Parliament left this as a grey area when the law was written in 1990 so it is a pity that the Government has been so slow to update our law as this is an area that everyone agrees would need to be covered. In the meantime the issue needs to be considered on its merits."

Dr Harris, a member of the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee added:

"Last year, our committee argued that because the embryos created by this means will be practically human in their genetic make-up and because we already allow research on human embryos, we should allow therapeutic research on these embryos within the current 14 day limit and as long as there is no question of reproductive use."

"If human benefit can be derived by perfecting therapeutic cloning techniques or from research into subsequently-derived stem cells, then it would actually be immoral to prevent it just because of a "yuk" factor."

Related Link:

BBC News Story.