Human embryonic stem cells created via cloning
Embryonic stem cells have been created from human skin cells for the first time by US scientists using a cloning technique...
News
Time-lapse embryo imaging boosts IVF success, clinic claims
A technique for monitoring embryo health could increase the chance of IVF couples having a healthy baby, according to a study from researchers at a private fertility clinic...
Scotland: 'Fairer and faster' IVF access limited to non-obese, non-smoking teetotalers
The Scottish government has approved criteria which include new restrictions on access to state-funded IVF but which also aim to end the 'postcode lottery' faced by many couples with fertility problems...
Body clock genes linked to depression
Genes believed to regulate sleep rhythm are expressed abnormally in people with major depressive disorders, scientists say...
Lung cancer gene test approved as 'companion diagnostic'
The US medicines regulator, the Food and Drug Administration, has approved a genetic test to help doctors select suitable lung cancer patients to be treated with the drug erlotinib...
Turkish womb transplant patient miscarries
Doctors have terminated the pregnancy of 22-year-old Derya Sert, the first woman to receive a womb transplant from a deceased donor....
Reviews
Event Review: Genomes and Societies - Global Challenges around Life Sciences
Earlier this month, over 180 delegates and speakers gathered in London for the final annual conference of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Genomics Network (EGN). After a decade of support from the ESRC, the EGN will officially draw to a close at the end of May...
Radio Review: You and Yours - How IVF Became Big Business
Kate Silverton is well known for reading the news on BBC, so I was interested to listen to her short report on how IVF has become such a big business...
Comment
Response to Ben Saer
by Olivia Montuschi
In addressing egg-donation dad-to-be Ben Saer's points in his BioNews article, it is hard to know where to start. Good parenting is of course supportive and protective, but it does not resolve the desire of some people to know more about who helped create them...
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis and the welfare of the healthy selected child
by Dr Mair Crouch
Preimplanatation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a technique that allows couples from families with history of certain inheritable diseases to try and reduce their risk of having a child affected by the condition....
Your thoughts about donor conception, conditionality and adoption
by Sandy Starr
Should gamete donors be allowed to place conditions on who receives their donation? And should those considering having children via donor conception be encouraged to adopt instead?...