Medical scientists in Germany are lobbying politicians ahead of a crucial vote scheduled for 14 February, which they say will decide the future of human embryonic stem (ES) cell research in the country. Oliver Brüstle, a neuropathologist at the University of Bonn, told the British Medical...
Campaigners are lobbying the UK Government to change the current Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to allow embryonic stem cells to be created using tissue from ill children, in order to facilitate research into life-limiting diseases. Under the current version of the Bill the procedure could not...
Australian researchers have announced the identification of two genes that are involved in learning difficulties. Over 10,000 children born in the UK every year are affected by some form of developmental delay, but in 80 per cent of cases doctors are unable to determine a cause. Reporting...
British scientists have created early-stage, human sperm from female stem cells, according to a news report in New Scientist magazine. It is claimed that the research will pave the way for same sex couples to have children that are genetically their own. However, other scientists are sceptical...
An international team of scientists has discovered a genetic defect in mice that may be linked to premature menopause. The study, published in Science, found that a gene called PTEN controls the life cycle of eggs in the ovaries, and that mice lacking PTEN have a shorter...
US President Bush has used his final State of the Union address to call on Congress to introduce legislation to ban human cloning and to also provide additional funding for 'ethical' stem cell research. 'On matters of science and life, we must trust in the innovative spirit...
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
Legislation, Deafness and Reproductive Rights: Comments on Clause 14 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
by Teresa Blankmeyer Burke
A new Bill to replace the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 is passing through the UK Houses of Parliament at the moment. One particular clause raises a controversial issue regarding preferences of certain kinds of persons or potential persons. Clause 14, section 4, number 9 (Lines 23-30, Page...