Animal-human hybrid cloning deferred

Controversial proposals to make embryos by merging human and animal material remain on hold following a decision on Thursday by the UK regulator of embryo research.

Under intense pressure from scientists to allow three UK teams to make the embryos, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority decided instead to hold a public consultation on the issue.

The researchers want to use cow or rabbit eggs as a short cut to making cloned embryos which could yield human embryonic stem cells. These are vital for research into major illnesses such as Parkinson's disease and motor neurone disease.

Because views on the proposals are so polarised, and because so little is known about whether the technique would work, the HFEA wants all the pros and cons aired in public before deciding whether to allow the work to go ahead.