British stem cell scientists seek licence to create chimeras

October 9, 2006

British scientists from three separate research centres have announced their intention to submit simultaneous proposals to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) later this month seeking a licence to create human-animal chimeras. The researchers – based in London, Newcastle and Edinburgh – are seeking approval to carry out experiments where they will remove the nucleus from either rabbit or cow eggs and replace it with the nucleus from a human cell. The groups hope that the new research will enable them to perfect the technique of cell nuclear replacement, also known as therapeutic cloning. (BioNews)