Issue 254 (21 April 2004)

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How much regulation of assisted reproduction is needed?

19 April 2004 - by Juliet Tizzard

This week's New England Journal of Medicine publishes a report into the outcomes of assisted reproduction in the United States. One major finding is that the rate of multiple pregnancies following IVF treatment has reduced over the past few years. The authors of the study say that the fall in...[Read More]

Parkinson's disease gene found

19 April 2004 - by BioNews

The identification of a gene involved in a rare hereditary form of Parkinson's disease could lead to new treatments for this incurable brain disorder, UK scientists say. Families affected by a severe, inherited form of the illness have an altered version of a gene called PINK1 (PTEN-induced kinase 1), researchers...[Read More]

IVF multiple births declining in US

19 April 2004 - by BioNews

IVF success rates in American fertility clinics have improved, and the number of women having three or more babies in one pregnancy has decreased over the past ten years, a new study shows. The drop in multiple births following IVF treatment reflects a fall in the average number of embryos...[Read More]

Embryo stem cell research licensed in Australia

19 April 2004 - by BioNews

Two Australian clinics have been granted licences by the Australian federal Government to conduct research on embryos left over from fertility treatments and donated for research purposes, the first such licences to be issued in the country. Following the issue of the licences by the National Health and Medical Research...[Read More]

Birth mother awarded custody of surrogate triplets

19 April 2004 - by BioNews

A US court has awarded legal custody of triplets to a surrogate after she changed her mind about handing them over to the couple who commissioned their birth. The woman, from Pennsylvania, argued that the biological father and his fiancee didn't show enough interest in the children, after they were...[Read More]

UK police to investigate cleft palate abortion

19 April 2004 - by BioNews

West Mercia police have opened a new inquiry into the termination of a pregnancy affected by cleft lip and palate. The abortion was carried out after 24 weeks, which is permitted in the UK if there is a risk of serious disability. The planned investigation follows a call for a...[Read More]