Top scientists report is further pressure on Government to drop ban on hybrid embryo research

2.03.34pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 19th Jun 2007

Commenting on the Academy of Medical Sciences report on inter-species embryos (human embryos containing animal material) Dr Evan Harris MP, Liberal Democrat Science Spokesman who has co-ordinated a campaign against such a ban, said:

"The view from these top UK scientists that hybrid research is vital and should be permitted in law subject to licensing, is yet another blow to the Government's policy of banning all or some hybrid research and forcing scientists to wait for further parliamentary approval for any new research approach."

"The Academy is quite right to express concern that a general prohibition on such research, even with exceptions, will hamper research progress, and the Government must now drop its policy and instead allow the HFEA to license all hybrid embryo research that it judges to be scientifically valuable within the 14-day limit."

"The Academy joins the Royal Society, the BMA, the HGC, the HFEA, Royal College of Physicians, the Wellcome Trust , the MRC, the BioIndustry Association, the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee and over 200 patient groups in opposing the Government's plans which are backed now only by pro-life hardliners and the anti-science brigade."

Commenting on the Academy conclusions on how to regulate animal and human research separately, Dr Harris said:

"The report provides some helpful suggestions about how to deal with the potentially over-lapping regulatory arrangements for animal and human research when considering animal embryos with significant human genetic material inserted for research purposes. The framing of the Governments' draft bill suggests that the Government hasn't quite got this right."