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UK
STEM CELL RESEARCH EXPANDS
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LONDON (AP) – British plans to allow scientists to use hybrid
animal-human embryos for stem cell research won final approval from
lawmakers Wednesday in a sweeping overhaul of sensitive science
laws. The House of Commons also clarified laws that allow the
screening of embryos to produce babies with suitable bone marrow or
other material for transplant to sick siblings.
It was the first review of embryo science in Britain in almost 20
years.
The legislators voted 355 to 129 to authorize the proposals after
months of sometimes bitter debate that has pitted Prime Minister Gor-
don Brown's government and scientists against religious leaders, anti-
abortion campaigners and others anxious about medical advances.
Brown says he believes scientists seeking to use mixed animal-
human embryos for stem cell research into diseases such as Parkin-
son's will help improve – and save – millions of lives.
Decisions by Britain's Human Fertilization and Embryology Au-
thority, an independent body which regulates fertility and embryo re-
search in the U.K., to allow the practice have previously been vulner-
able to challenges in court.
While Britain has been seen as a world leader in stem cell and
cloning research, similar work to create human embryos from animal
eggs is also being conducted in China and the United States.
British lawmakers had already endorsed individual proposals, but
Wednesday's vote involved the complete draft bill.
"One in seven couples need help with fertility treatment, 350,000
people live with Alzheimer's, every week there are five children born
and three young people die from cystic fibrosis – all issues that this
bill addresses," Health Minister Dawn Primarolo told lawmakers,
opening a debate on the draft laws.
Britain's government opted not to allow legislators to use the de-
bate to consider the country's abortion laws – last drafted in 1990 –
frustrating hopes of both anti-abortion lawmakers and those seeking to
liberalize current regulations.