Issue 216 (14 July 2003)

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Creating embryos for the benefit of sick siblings: whose decision?

08 July 2003 - by Josephine Quintavalle

What was described by the media as either the 'designer baby' or the 'Hashmi' case was, in effect, neither. The legal arguments in the courts were directed exclusively at the governance of policy making in assisted reproduction. Comment on Reproductive Ethics (CORE) argued that, in 1990, Parliament did not give...[Read More]

Public awareness of infertility and views on provision of NHS treatment

10 July 2003 - by Julian Jenkins

Although the media frequently present stories about infertility, how aware are the public about infertility and what are their views on NHS provision of infertility treatment? It is well recognised that there is a 'post code lottery' for NHS provision of infertility services, but how is this regarded by the...[Read More]

Department of Health request

10 July 2003 - by BioNews

The European Parliament will consider again in the autumn a proposed Directive on setting standards of quality and safety for the donation, procurement, testing, processing, storage and distribution of human tissues and cells. This will cover tissues and cells for human application including mature and immature gametes, though not organs...[Read More]

Strict guidelines on European Union stem cell funds proposed

14 July 2003 - by BioNews

The European Commission made proposals last week to allow embryonic stem (ES) cell research using ES cells newly derived from stored human embryos to be funded by the European Union (EU). Countries where this type of ES cell research is prohibited by national laws, such as Spain, France, Germany, Denmark...[Read More]

Human chromosome seven decoded

14 July 2003 - by BioNews

US and German scientists have published the entire genetic code of chromosome seven, the largest human chromosome to be fully sequenced so far. It is made up of 153 million letters of DNA code (base-pairs), and contains at least 1,150 genes that specify proteins. The researchers say that they include...[Read More]

Women may ovulate more than once a month

14 July 2003 - by BioNews

Women may release eggs more than once during their monthly cycle, a new study by a group of Canadian researchers suggests. Their findings could lead to improvements in fertility treatments, and could also explain many unexpected pregnancies. 'We are in the early phases of understanding it, but it is quite...[Read More]

New gene treatments for muscular dystrophy?

14 July 2003 - by BioNews

Two new studies promise new treatments for the muscular dystrophies, a group of genetic conditions that cause progressive muscle weakness. Italian researchers have combined stem cell and gene therapy techniques to successfully treat mice with symptoms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, while a UK group has used a novel form of...[Read More]

Hype and hope for personalised medicines

14 July 2003 - by BioNews

A new report concludes that that the marketing of pharmacogenetic tests - matching medicines to a person's genetic make-up - may be moving faster than the underlying science. The findings, entitled 'My very own medicine: What must I know?' were published recently by the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at...[Read More]