Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 28 January (WA 268), whether they have examined the peer-reviewed scientific literature for instances in which technical challenges associated with somatic cell nuclear transfer were overcome on the basis of insights gained from pronuclear transfer; if not, what was the basis for the Written Answer by Lord Marland on 5 December 2012 (WA 158–9); and if so, whether they will provide a specific reference to an instance in peer-reviewed literature.[HL5059]
Answer
In responding to the previous Question the department sought advice from medical researchers through the Medical Research Council (MRC). The technical challenges referred to in the response to the previous Question relate to those found by researchers at the University of Newcastle and the MRC-funded project. The advice provided to the department is that researchers in Newcastle have overcome challenges associated with somatic cell nuclear transfer on the basis of insights gained from pronuclear transfer and vice versa. A detailed account cannot be provided by the researcher as this might compromise future publication.
Neither the department nor the MRC has made any assessment of the scientific literature on this issue.