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Hybrid embryo ban 'would cost patients' lives' By Nic Fleming, Science Correspondent Last Updated: 12:54am GMT 05/01/2007 Hundreds of thousands of patients with diseases of the nervous system will miss out on potentially life-saving new treatments if regulators ban experiments using part-human, part-animal embryos, scientists said yesterday. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is next week expected to turn down applications from two teams of British researchers to transfer human cells into rabbit, cow and goat eggs. Scientists want to create the hybrid embryos that would be around 99.9 per cent human and 0.1 per cent animal in order to produce embryonic stem cells - the body's basic building blocks that can grow into all other types of cells. They hope to use stem cells to both understand and provide new treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cystic fibrosis, motor neurone disease and Huntington's. Until now the process of creating an early embryo by putting human DNA into an egg that has its nucleus removed - known as therapeutic cloning - has been carried out using human eggs from consenting IVF patients. However, these are in short supply and success rates have been low. Chinese scientists have shown it is possible to harvest stem cells from embryos created by transferring human cells into rabbit or cow eggs. The UK-based researchers, led by Dr Stephen Minger at King's College, London, and Dr Lyle Armstrong at the North East England Stem Cell Institute, in Newcastle, stress the hybrid embryos would be destroyed by 14 days when they are no bigger than a pinhead. Last month the Government published a White Paper that will form the basis for an overhaul of laws on fertility treatment and embryo research. It included a proposed ban on the creation of embryos that are part-human, part-animal, with a provision to allow such research in certain conditions under licence. Dr Minger said yesterday: "Informally we have been told [by the HFEA] they are unlikely to grant permission for our applications. "At present we have no therapies to even alleviate the symptoms for conditions such as Alzheimer's, spinal muscular dystrophy and motor neurone disease, never mind make an impact on disease progression." Prof Chris Shaw, a neurologist from King's College London, said: "I think this technique has the potential for very important outcomes for patients. To shut this research down at the moment would be an affront to those patients. The authority board will issue a policy statement that will inform its decision on the research licence applications at a meeting on Wednesday. Opponents have described the proposed research as undermining "the whole distinction between animals and humans". Josephine Quintavalle, the director of Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: "This kind of research makes people feel uncomfortable. There has been a groundswell of public concern and I think the HFEA has realised that." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn