From: pchaston (pchaston@netlineuk.net)
Date: Tue Dec 19 2000 - 15:31:34 MST
[Non-member submission]
Been lurking for a while. Thought I would add my ha'penny.
According to the British government's response to the Chief Medical
Officer's Expert Group Report, this free vote allowed an extension of the
regulations laid down in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.
The government recommends that research utilising embryos created via the
cell nuclear replacement technique and stem line cell research should be
allowed under the auspices of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology
Authority in order "to increase understanding of and develop treatments for
mitochondrial diseases" amongst other conditions.
The government recommends that "the mixing of human adult (somatic) cells
with the live eggs of any animal species should not be permitted" and that
"he transfer of an embryo created by cell nuclear replacement into the
uterus of a woman (so called 'reproductive cloning') should remain a
criminal offence".
This is a minor extension of the present regulations, publicised during a
parliamentary free vote, in order to allay public concern about current
advances in genetics.
Yet Britain still remains a pioneer in allowing genetic information to
impact upon the daily life of its subjects. I understand that no other
country in the West allows life insurers to utilise genetic information in
order to set premiums for individual customers, as it undermines principles
of general insurance and precipitates fears of a 'genetic underclass'.
Philip Chaston
----- Original Message -----
From: Sean Kenny <seankenny@blueyonder.co.uk>
To: Extropians List <extropians@extropy.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2000 8:46 PM
Subject: embryo research
> The Uk parliamnet has just voted to massively extend human embryo
research.
> Is it true that this sort of research is prohibited in the States.
>
> Link to BBC story today
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1078000/1078639.stm
>
> Sean Kenny
>
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