In BioNews 296, we reported that the United Nations has approved a declaration calling upon member nations 'to prohibit any attempts to create human life through cloning processes and any research intended to achieve that aim'. In fact, the latest text of the declaration asks nations to 'prohibit all forms...
The Spanish government has approved four research projects using human embryonic stem (ES) cells. Last November, the Spanish government formally approved a decree clarifying the country's laws on ES cell research. It had passed legislation on assisted reproduction and embryo research in October 2003, but did not at the time...
According to the UK's Sunday Times newspaper, a high proportion of couples seeking fertility treatments ask the clinic to help them have twins, rather than have one baby at a time. The Sunday Times describes this as producing 'an instant family with just one pregnancy'. One clinic that the newspaper...
Two groups in California have begun a legal action seeking to invalidate Proposition 71, the $3 billion dollar stem cell research funding initiative approved by voters in the state last November. The November ballot, in which 59 per cent of Californians voted in favour of state funding for human embryonic...
US researchers have identified a genetic variation that affects a person's response to beta-blockers - drugs used to treat patients with heart failure. Scientists at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio have discovered that a tiny inherited difference in the protein targeted by beta-blockers may determine whether the drug works or...
Proposed guidelines from the Welsh Assembly Government, put forward for consultation until 14 March, would rule out IVF treatment on the National Health Service (NHS) for couples if one partner already has a child. This would include adopted children and would apply even if the child does not live with...
The US state of Utah has passed a bill (SB14) that will legalise some surrogacy arrangements in the state. The bill originally passed through the state's Senate last month. Last week, members of the state House of Representatives voted 38 to 31 in favour of the bill, which says that...
Most Americans think it is acceptable to test embryos to avoid life-threatening conditions, or to find out if they can provide matched cord blood cells for a sick sibling, a new survey shows. The poll, conducted by the Genetics and Public Policy Center, also found that most of those questioned...
Subscribe for free to what PET does best – informing you of the latest in fertility, genomics and embryo research.
Comment
BioNews needs your help
by Laura Riley
BioNews will be six years old next month. It started out in 1999, as an experimental weekly email sent to a handful of interested people. Now, BioNews provides news and comment in human genetics and assisted reproduction to thousands of readers around the world, both via the weekly email, and...