Pressure on Government over animal-human hybrid research

5.32.59pm GMT Wed 10th Jan 2007

The Government came under more pressure on the issue of animal-human hybrid embryo research today when the House of Commons Science & Technology Select Committee announced a short inquiry into the issue. This should report prior to the expected publication of the Government's draft Human Fertility and Embryology Bill in March this year.

Dr Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat member of the Science and Technology Select Committee and a member of the BMA Medical Ethics Committee, who is co-ordinating a campaign against the Government's proposed ban on this form of research announced in their recently published White Paper, said,

"Following the outcry from leading scientists, patient groups and medical ethicists in recent days in response to the Governments proposed ban of this form of research the Government will now have to defend its proposals to MPs"

In March 2005 the previous Science & Technology Select Committee voted to recommend the definition and regulation of animal-human hybrid embryo research and against a ban, but by a narrow majority.

"It will be interesting to see whether opinion on this matter has shifted in the two years since that inquiry."