MPs have voted against a bill banning the use of human-animal embryos in the House of Commons. The so-called ‘Frankenstein’ embryos – more commonly known as hybrid embryos - are created by injecting human nuclei into animal eggs and they can grow for up to 14 days.
The stem cells created can be harvested and used to create brain, skin, heart and other tissue for treating diseases - Is this too far though?
Well it isn’t according to PM Gordon Brown, who pledged his support to the science in an article in the Observer yesterday. 336 MPs are understood to have voted against any amendment to the bill tonight.
The Government are trying to update laws from the 1990s in a bid to bring science into line with technological advances but at what cost?
It’s an interesting issue. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by disease and would naturally wish that something could have been done to help improve, and possible cure, the person’s condition.
Like anything, however, there’s no short term answer.
Tonight’s decision will lead to new research, that’s a given. But just how long it will take before the research provides some answers remains to be seen.
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