Issue 388 (11 December 2006)

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Stored Embryos, Gender Equality and the Meaning of Parenthood

08 December 2006 - by Professor Sally Sheldon

2006 has witnessed significant litigation regarding the disposal of stored embryos. In the UK, the long-running court battle waged by Natallie Evans has reached its final chapter. Having lost her ovaries to cancer treatment, previously stored embryos created from Ms Evans' eggs and her ex-partner's sperm represent Ms Evans' last...[Read More]

A Child Against All Odds: BBC Learning campaign

11 December 2006 - by Rebecca Simor

A Child Against All Odds - the BBC season about ethical issues around infertility science - has provoked strong feelings on all sides. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the issue that has provoked the strongest response so far is the question of an age limit for mothers using IVF. At a live debate at BBC...[Read More]

Australia's House of Representatives approves cloning bill

11 December 2006 - by Antony Blackburn-Starza

Australia's House of Representatives has approved legislation that permits therapeutic cloning for embryonic stem (ES) cell research by 82 votes to 62. The Senate already passed the bill in early November by a slight margin of 34 votes to 32. MPs in the House of Representatives were...[Read More]

Human trials for fetal stem cell stroke therapy

11 December 2006 - by Heidi Nicholl

By Heidi Nicholl: British researchers have applied to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for permission to begin human trials on stroke patients using stem cells derived from human fetal tissue. Biotech company ReNeuron, based in Guildford, Surrey, have completed many rounds of animal trials and are confident that...[Read More]

HFEA publishes report on infertility clinics

11 December 2006 - by Heidi Nicholl

The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the government regulator of infertility clinics, has published a report into the performance of UK clinics offering in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and donor insemination. The report has found that the majority of clinics broadly meet the standards set by...[Read More]

3D map of gene expression in the brain

11 December 2006 - by Dr Laura Bell

Research published online in Nature last week has revealed new information about the structural and cellular complexity of the brain. It is hoped the research can be used to facilitate brain research all over the world. The Allen Brain Atlas is a web-based three dimensional map...[Read More]

Vatican criticises EU embryo research funding

11 December 2006 - by Dr Jess Buxton

The European Parliament's approval of funding for some human embryonic stem cell research reflects inequality in how individual countries recognise fundamental rights, according to a Vatican official. Following 19 months of negotiations and 2000 amendments - 700 of which were put to a vote - the 7th Framework...[Read More]

Restrictive fertility law forces Italian patients abroad

11 December 2006 - by Dr Jess Buxton

Thousands of Italians are being forced to travel abroad for assisted reproduction or preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) treatment, because of Italy's highly restrictive legislation. The results of a new survey carried out by the Reproductive Tourism Observatory show that the number of couples travelling to other...[Read More]