So you think simple embryonic stem cell research produces controversy? When it comes to this type of research in England, they ain't whistling dixie.
UK scientists have applied for permission to create embryos by fusing human DNA with cow eggs...
The hybrid human-bovine embryos would be used for stem cell research and would not be allowed to develop for more than a few days.
Now it isn't quite as scary as you may think.
They would insert human DNA into a cow's egg which has had its genetic material removed, and then create an embryo by the same technique that produced Dolly the Sheep.
The resulting embryo would be 99.9% human; the only bovine element would be DNA outside the nucleus of the cell....
The religious right is very delusional and irrational at the best of times. Imagine their horror at this. I think we can all think of what the arguments against this would be. Here one of the arguments for it (though there are others of course, some more technical)
Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, head of developmental genetics, National Institute for Medical Research, said: "This is a very rational step: to learn what you can using animal eggs, which are readily obtainable, before moving on to valuable human eggs when or if this becomes necessary."
And think of the money saved on milk (sorry).
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