Japanese scientists have used laser light to activate genes delivered to rats' eyes, New Scientist magazine reports. The team, based at the University of Tokyo, says the method will help make gene therapy more effective, by allowing precise control over when and where the therapeutic genes are switched on. The...
The Victorian Law Reform Commission has released recommendations suggesting how the state's 'confusing and contradictory state laws about altruistic surrogacy' can be clarified. The Commission, an independent statutory authority that reports to the state government on options for law reform in Australia's second largest state, is currently enquiring and reporting...
Human embryonic stem (ES) cell researchers participating in a state-wide conference in the US state of New Jersey have warned that 'lip service' to the research and the provision of adequate state funds is not good enough, and that researchers could shift to other states that offer better incentives. Both...
Women who undergo repeated cycles of IVF treatment are at higher risk of complications than women who just take medicines to stimulate egg production, say Finnish researchers. However, the risks of complications are low after each individual IVF cycle, say the researchers, who are based at the National Research and...
Woo Suk Hwang - head of the South Korean team that obtained the world's first embryonic stem (ES) cells from cloned human embryos - has quit his public positions after admitting that some eggs used in the work were provided by junior researchers and paid donors. The shock resignation follows a statement...
Stay up-to-date on all the latest developments in the fields of human fertility and genomics. And be the first to hear about upcoming events and other announcements.
Comment
Eggs and ethics in stem cell research
by Dr Jess Buxton
In this week's BioNews, we report on the ethical controversy that has lead to embryo stem cell pioneer Woo Suk Hwang resigning from his public positions - including that as chair of the World Stem Cell Hub, launched with much fanfare last month. What exactly did Hwang do wrong, and what...