Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 9 March (WA 204–05), how the Human Fertilisationand Embryology Authority has demonstrated that embryos cultured for more than 14 days could not develop a primitive streak when the authority's Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee is of the view that primitive streak-cells may be detected.
Answer
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised me that its Scientific and Clinical Advances Committee is of the view that although the embryonic masses that form when embryos outgrow their structure would not develop a primitive streak, it is possible that primitive streak like cells may be detectable. The HFEA and its Scientific and Clinical Advances Committee are as one on this question. Minutes of the committee's meetings are published on the HFEA's website.