Question
asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 16 July (WA 153–4), what consideration was given by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to the use of bovine oocytes in assays to assess the potential of human cells for reproductive cloning as described in the paper by Illmensee, Levanduski and Zavos in Fertility and Sterility; to what extent the corresponding authors of this paper were consulted by members of the HFEA; how the level of consultation reflects the HFEA’s opinion of the merits of such work; and what consideration was given to previously published studies regarding the potential of comparable cytoplasmic hybrids to develop when implanted in the womb of an animal.
Answer
As part of its consultation on hybrid embryos, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) carried out an extensive literature review and consulted several leading scientific institutions. The aim was to gather information on which research groups had already created human-animal cytoplasmic hybrid embryos abroad, and to explore the pre-implantation development of human-animal cytoplasmic hybrid embryos. The HFEA did try to correspond with the authors of the paper quoted but they refused to give any additional information. The HFEA did not review the study in order to assess the potential of human cells for reproductive cloning as reproductive cloning is illegal in the United Kingdom. Also, as it is illegal for a cytoplasmic hybrid to be transferred into the womb of a woman, it was not relevant for the authority to look at published work that may have done this in animals.