Quote:
MPs back hybrid embyro research
The government has survived two big challenges to its controversial plans to change the law on embryo research for the first time in 20 years.
A cross-party attempt to ban hybrid human animal embryos was defeated on a free vote, by 336 to 176.
Catholic cabinet ministers Ruth Kelly, Des Browne and Paul Murphy voted for a ban. PM Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron both opposed it.
A bid to ban "saviour siblings" was voted down by 342 votes to 163.
The votes followed two impassioned debates in the committee stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, aimed at updating laws from 1990 in line with scientific advances.
The government has survived two big challenges to its controversial plans to change the law on embryo research for the first time in 20 years.
A cross-party attempt to ban hybrid human animal embryos was defeated on a free vote, by 336 to 176.
Catholic cabinet ministers Ruth Kelly, Des Browne and Paul Murphy voted for a ban. PM Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron both opposed it.
A bid to ban "saviour siblings" was voted down by 342 votes to 163.
The votes followed two impassioned debates in the committee stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, aimed at updating laws from 1990 in line with scientific advances.
So approved researchers will be able to combine human and animal cells for a brief period of time to seek genetic solutions to debilitating conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinsons and FFXI.
They've also approved "Saviour Siblings" so parents can undergo IVF to allow the harvesting of umbilical cells to save an existing child from a nasty fate.
I'm assuming Roman Catholic parents will veto this
