UK: Animal egg stem cell research plans in jeopardy

January 8, 2007

UK scientists hoping to use animal eggs in human embryonic stem (ES) cell research face a ban on their work, if proposals outlined in a recent White Paper become law. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which regulates all human embryo research carried out in Britain, is due to meet this week to consider applications from two teams who want to use rabbit or cow eggs to overcome the shortage of human eggs for such research. (BioNews)