Issue 222 (26 August 2003)

Welcome to BioNews by email, the free weekly news digest of the top stories in assisted conception, genetics, embryo/stem cell research and related areas, published by the Progress Educational Trust. Sent to registered subscribers each week, BioNews by email is aimed at informing debate in these areas by providing balanced and timely summaries of the week's news and developments alongside comment, reviews and recommendations of selected topical conferences, events and more. It also contains job advertisements from the relevant sectors.

Visit the BioNews website at www.bionews.org.uk where you can subscribe for free to receive BioNews by email in one of three formats, plus view more news, comment, reviews and job advertisements and search the full archive.

Not true that boy has 'wrong' father after IVF mistake

26 August 2003 - by Dr Kirsty Horsey

This week's BioNews reports on an unnamed 13-year old boy who, after six years of legal action, has discovered the 'truth' about his parenthood. Confirming suspicions that he has supposedly harboured since he was aged five, a court-ordered DNA test has proved that the man he has grown up...[Read More]

Internet sperm agency announces its first birth

20 August 2003 - by BioNews

The London-based 'ManNotIncluded' website has announced its first baby success this week. A baby boy was born to a married couple in the UK as a result of sperm obtained via the web-based 'introduction agency', which acts as a go-between for couples or individuals wishing to obtain fresh sperm for...[Read More]

56-year-old asks for egg donor

21 August 2003 - by BioNews

A 56-year old British woman has placed advertisements in local shops and newspapers asking for an egg donor to help her have a baby. Priscilla Eatwell already has three children and is a grandmother, but has been turned away from IVF clinics in the UK because of her age...[Read More]

IVF error discovered after 13 years

25 August 2003 - by BioNews

A UK newspaper has reported that a 13-year old boy has grown up thinking the wrong man was his father after an IVF mix-up. The Sun reports that sperm from the wrong man was used during his mother's fertility treatment at the private Wellington Hospital clinic in London in...[Read More]

Free IVF for most UK couples?

26 August 2003 - by BioNews

The UK's National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published the second draft of its proposed guidelines for infertility treatment provided by the National Health Service (NHS). It recommends that infertile couples meeting certain criteria should be offered up to three IVF attempts using fresh embryos, with the possibility of...[Read More]

Parkinson's disease gene therapy trial begins

26 August 2003 - by BioNews

A US man affected by Parkinson's disease became the first patient to receive experimental gene therapy treatment for his illness last week. Fifty-five year-old Nathan Klein is one of 12 people enrolled on a new trial taking place at New-York Presbyterian Hospital, in which doctors will inject a therapeutic gene...[Read More]