The embryonic stem cell research debate has shifted into unchartered territory: Britain’s fertility regulator has given the green light for the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos for research. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) cautioned:

“This is not a total green light for cytoplasmic hybrid research, but recognition that this area of research can, with caution and careful scrutiny, be permitted. Individual research teams should be able to undertake research projects involving the creation of cytoplasmic hybrid embryos if they can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of an HFEA licence committee, that their planned research project is both necessary and desirable. They must also meet the overall standards required by the HFEA for any embryo research.”

The impetus for the work is the belief that cytoplasmic hybrids, in which human nuclei are placed into enucleated animal cells, will provide a good source of stem cells. The Lineacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics, a bioethics research institute under the trusteeship of the Catholic Trust for England and Wales, offers a strong critique.
(HT: Derek Thomas)