Creating embryos 'animal hybrids'

On January 17, the British government created a " biological seismic " when allowing "hybrid" embryos between humans and animals for the purpose of extracting healing stem cells.

The Guardian newspaper reported that the Agency for Human Embryo and Pregnancy Research (HFEA) has granted research licenses to two universities, Newcastle University and Kings College London, for a period of 12 months. The HFEA licensing committee affirmed that both universities "meet all the requirements of the law".

99.9% of humans, 0.1% of animals

According to BBC News, British scientists will combine DNA from human cells with rabbits' eggs, and animals like cows. Then they put an electric current through these eggs, causing them to divide and become embryos. From there, researchers will extract stem cells.

Embryonic cells replicate in the initial form
(Photo: TTO)

Before combining, animal eggs will be separated from the genetic information (DNA). Therefore, embryos are created almost as human beings. The only "animal" element left is a very small part of the DNA that exists in the mitochondria outside the cell, the source of energy to feed the cells. AFP news agency quoted a Newcastle University researcher as saying that the embryo was made up of 99.9% of humans, and only 0.1% of animals.

Experts say this will be a great breakthrough in stem cell technology. Currently, scientists still have to rely on human eggs from sources of infertility treatment centers, or donated to create germ cells. However, this supply is not stable and does not always produce good quality eggs.

" Finding more efficient methods of embryonic stem cell production is the long-term goal of this study, " said Dr. Lyle Armstrong, of Newcastle University. " Beef for research is as effective as human eggs. Therefore their use is perfectly reasonable, especially the supply is plentiful. "

According to HFEA regulations, " hybrid " embryos will have to be canceled within 14 days of being " shipped ". The government has also prevented the possibility of creating " animal hybrids " when prohibiting " hybrid " embryos into the womb of women.

The scientific community applauded

The move of HFEA has received a warm applause from British and international scientists. AFP quoted Professor Robin Lovell - Badge, of the British National Medical Research Institute, affirming the decision will enrich technology to help develop treatments for incurable genetic diseases."This is good news for science, but more importantly, it is good news for patients," said Sophie Petit-Zeman, a charity medical research organization.

Many experts also identified breakthroughs in hybrid embryos that will help the UK to hold a leading position in stem cell research. The Guardian newspaper said that in order to come to this decision, HFEA has spent 12 months considering and consulting experts and the public to determine whether the creation of a hybrid embryo is scientifically appropriate and law or not. In November 2007, the HFEA survey showed that British people proved quite "comfortable" with the proposal.

However, the creation of a hybrid product between humans and animals still faces fierce opposition from many religious and social organizations. John Smeaton, director of the UK Fetal Protection Organization, declared the HFEA's decision to be a "catastrophic demise of human dignity ". According to Smeaton, deliberately blurring the line between people and other species is " completely wrong " and " a blow to everything that represents humanity ."