Question
Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 21 April (WA 234), 2 May (WA 109–10), 19 June (WA 177–8), 24 June (WA 227), 1 July (WA 27–8) and 16 July (WA 153–4), what was the available evidence studied by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in order to establish the intrinsic lack of potential in any embryo cultured on a layer of feeder cells for more than 14 days, if no published data were considered aside from a study describing the ability of mouse embryos to develop contractions resembling a heartbeat after cultivation in vitro.
Answer
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s scientific and clinical advisory group was asked to consider the various methods of deriving embryonic stem cells from human embryos and whether any of the methods would, potentially, be prohibited under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. This discussion involved the views of and information provided by Dr Daniel Brison and Professor Alan Trounson, leading experts in the field of embryonic stem cells. The view of the group was that none of the methods currently used would be prohibited because entities which form when human embryos are allowed to outgrow their structure are not classed as live human embryos and do not breach Sections 3(3)(a) and 3(4) of the 1990 Act. This is because the entities do not have the organisation structure of a viable embryo and are not representative of a 3D suspended embryo undergoing gastrulation—the stage of development during which the primitive streak emerges.