Breaking: Britain to allow human-animal hybrids

The details are a bit complicated, but it appears that Britain is going to allow the fertilization of fully human-animal hybrids, reports the UK Times Online:

The main type of admixed embryo permitted by the Bill are “cytoplasmic hybrids” or “cybrids”, made by moving a human nucleus into an empty animal egg. These are genetically 99.9 per cent human. As well as true hybrids, it also allows chimeras that combine human and animal cells and transgenic human embryos that include a little animal DNA.

The most immediate implication of the Commons vote will be to allow teams at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and King’s College, London, who already hold licences to create a particular type of admixed embryo, to continue their research.

The bill does not rule out, however, the creation of "'true hybrids' made by fertilising an animal egg with human sperm, or vice-versa." This is another step beyond the previous permissions given.

More details:

• UK Indipendent: MPs vote against ban on hybrid embryos
• Daily Express: MPs warned over hybrid embryos
• Sky News, MPs Allow 'Frankenstein' Embryos

I don't have time at the present to see if the local Catholic bishops have said anything about this development, but I'll try to find that out this evening if I get the chance.