Avoiding a chimaera quagmire

摘要

Researchers need to take the initiative in addressing a controversial and urgent ethical issue: under what circumstances should the fusion of cells of animals and humans be permitted? Last month, legislative revisions to the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act were proposed in which the British government sought to reflect developments in reproductive technology and research since the act's inception in 1990. Among the recommendations (see www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/14/13/15/04141315.pdf) are new regulations on embryo research combining human and non-human material that take into account acute public concerns over where such research might lead.