Membership of UK's therapeutic cloning group announced

Professor Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, announced the membership and terms of reference of the expert group set up to examine the potential benefits and risks of - and alternatives to - therapeutic cloning research.

The expert group was established by the UK government to further explore the pros and cons of such research before responding to last year's joint report by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the Human Genetics Advisory Commission (HGAC), which recommended that such research be allowed.

The group's aims are fivefold: to establish the extent of the current research focus on therapeutic applications of cloning techniques (including stem cell research) and assess where developments are likely to lead; to assess the anticipated benefits, potential risks and any alternative approaches that might be pursued to achieve the same benefits; to consider whether there are any ethical implications beyond those addressed by the HFEA/HGAC report; to advise on whether regulations need to made to extend the purposes for which embryo research may be carried out; and to advise on whether any additional regulation of the use of embryonic cell lines (such as stem cells) is needed.