A new science White Paper, entitled 'Excellence and Opportunity', was published by the UK government's Office of Science and Technology on 26 July. It calls for stronger links between universities and business, and greater financial rewards for public sector scientists. It also focusses on the importance of public confidence in...
The UK government's Science Minister, Lord Sainsbury, has sparked debate by announcing his support for a change in the law to allow research into therapeutic cloning. In an interview for the Daily Telegraph, he said that 'the important benefits which can come from this research outweigh any other considerations one...
The government is set to change the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act to allow the father of a baby conceived after his death to be named on the birth certificate. The move follows the case of Marion Jordan, highlighted in Parliament by her MP Debra Shipley. Mrs Jordan conceived...
A man's fertility starts to decline from the age of 24, according to a new study carried out by researchers based at the UK's Bristol and Brunel Universities. The scientists found that the older a man is, the longer it will take his partner to conceive, regardless of her age...
Fertility experts highlighted the ongoing problem of the 'postcode lottery' provision of fertility treatment in the UK at the Fertility 2000 conference in Edinburgh last week. Lord Robert Winston, of Hammersmith Hospital, London, said that the problems were worse under the current government than the last. 'I am increasingly dissatisfied...
The Indian government has set up a National Bioethics Committee to prepare guidelines for research into genomics, according to a news report in The Lancet last week. The panel will look at ethical issues relating to research in gene therapy, genetic diversity and related areas, and also prepare a national...
Australian prime minister John Howard has expressed his concern at a recent court ruling in favour of a single woman who wants to use vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment to conceive a baby. Lisa Meldrum appealed against the laws of the state of Victoria, citing the federal Sex Discrimination Act, which...
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Embryo stem cell therapies: the case for
by Juliet Tizzard
In response to the latest of a series of leaks about the government's plans for therapeutic cloning and stem cell therapies, the UK shadow health secretary, Dr Liam Fox, accused the government of avoiding debate and riding rough-shod over public opinion. The government may not be ready to engage in...