Prominent Republicans have spoken out against recommendations on the federal funding of embryo research made last month by President Clinton's National Bioethics Advisory Commission. A major battle looks likely when Congress considers the annual budget for the Department of Health and Human Services this summer. The Commission's report urges Congress...
The troubled British Biotech and three former directors will receive a severe admonishment from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, drawing to an end a two-year inquiry into whether press releases issued by the company were too optimistic. Contrary to expectations, the SEC will not recommend fines or imprisonment of...
Susan Deacon, a former business consultant, has been appointed health minister for Scotland. She has no prior experience of the health service and policy, as her background is in local government and education. However, doctors' leaders have welcomed the appointment. She replaces the former neurosurgeon, Sam Galbraith, who has moved...
Compiling a detailed map of the human genome will take significantly more time and resources than previously thought, according to an article published in the June issue of Nature Genetics. Dr Leonid Kruglyak argues that the current gene-mapping efforts to identify 400,000 genetic markers to isolate genes for common diseases...
A 50-year old man suffering from haemophilia A last week became the first person to receive in vivo gene therapy for his condition. The genetically inherited blood disorder affects about 1 in 10,000 men. Affected men carry a defect in the gene for the blood-clotting protein, factor VIII, which...
Italy could soon have legislation to govern the until-now unregulated practice of assisted reproduction. A bill was passed on 26 May by the parliament's lower house. If the bill becomes law, access to in vitro fertilisation (IVF) would only be available to heterosexual couples - regardless of marital status - with proven...
The winner of the science world's equivalent to the Booker Prize - the Rhone-Poulenc Prize for Science Books - is to be awarded in a lavish ceremony at the Science Museum in London on 8 June. The winner of the short-list of six will be awarded £10,000. Commercial success doesn't tend to...
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The strange world of IVF regulation
by Juliet Tizzard
This week's BioNews includes news that Italy is considering legislation to govern the practice of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. Given that IVF is now nearing its 21st birthday, Italy's legislative moves may seem somewhat belated. IVF services have been available in Italy for some years and Italian scientists have...