The European Commission made proposals last week to allow embryonic stem (ES) cell research using ES cells newly derived from stored human embryos to be funded by the European Union (EU). Countries where this type of ES cell research is prohibited by national laws, such as Spain, France, Germany, Denmark...
US and German scientists have published the entire genetic code of chromosome seven, the largest human chromosome to be fully sequenced so far. It is made up of 153 million letters of DNA code (base-pairs), and contains at least 1,150 genes that specify proteins. The researchers say that they include...
Women may release eggs more than once during their monthly cycle, a new study by a group of Canadian researchers suggests. Their findings could lead to improvements in fertility treatments, and could also explain many unexpected pregnancies. 'We are in the early phases of understanding it, but it is quite...
Two new studies promise new treatments for the muscular dystrophies, a group of genetic conditions that cause progressive muscle weakness. Italian researchers have combined stem cell and gene therapy techniques to successfully treat mice with symptoms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, while a UK group has used a novel form of...
A new report concludes that that the marketing of pharmacogenetic tests - matching medicines to a person's genetic make-up - may be moving faster than the underlying science. The findings, entitled 'My very own medicine: What must I know?' were published recently by the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at...
The European Parliament will consider again in the autumn a proposed Directive on setting standards of quality and safety for the donation, procurement, testing, processing, storage and distribution of human tissues and cells. This will cover tissues and cells for human application including mature and immature gametes, though not organs...
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Comment
Public awareness of infertility and views on provision of NHS treatment
by Julian Jenkins
Although the media frequently present stories about infertility, how aware are the public about infertility and what are their views on NHS provision of infertility treatment? It is well recognised that there is a 'post code lottery' for NHS provision of infertility services, but how is this regarded by the...
Creating embryos for the benefit of sick siblings: whose decision?
by Josephine Quintavalle
What was described by the media as either the 'designer baby' or the 'Hashmi' case was, in effect, neither. The legal arguments in the courts were directed exclusively at the governance of policy making in assisted reproduction. Comment on Reproductive Ethics (CORE) argued that, in 1990, Parliament did not give...