Bill allowing creation of "admixed" embryos for research passes first hurdle

doi:10.1136/bmj.39581.373403.DB

BMJ 2008;336:1089 (17 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39581.373403.DB

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Bill allowing creation of "admixed" embryos for research passes first hurdle

Clare Dyer

¹ BMJ

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Controversial legislation to regulate the use of human embryosfor research and treatment in the United Kingdom had its secondreading in the House of Commons this week, but ministers facea fight next week to push the most contentious measures through.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which updates 1990legislation to take account of advances in technology, passedthe second reading by 340 votes to 78, with only nine LabourMPs rebelling.

The government imposed a whip to ensure that the bill achievedits second reading, but its real test will come next week whenLabour MPs and ministers will have a free vote on the threemost controversial issues.

These are the creation of "admixed" human and animal embryosfor research (admixed is an umbrella term for embryos containinghuman and animal material); the removal of the requirement forinfertility treatment centres to consider the child’sneed . . . [Full text of this article]

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