Issue 420 (13 August 2007)

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Welfare and the need for a father

13 August 2007 - by Professor Ruth Deech

The current legislation regarding IVF is under review. The issue that uncovered the deepest feelings in the evidence received by the parliamentary scrutiny committee is the rather mild provision in Section 13(5) of the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act that 'a woman shall not be provided with...[Read More]

There's no such thing as a free egg

13 August 2007 - by Dr Anna Smajdor

Earlier this year, at the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) conference in Lyons, France, it was reported that Melanie Boivin, a Canadian woman, had decided to have her eggs surgically extracted and preserved for the later use of her daughter, who at this time was seven years...[Read More]

Gene for glaucoma found

13 August 2007 - by Rose Palmer

Icelandic and Swedish scientists have discovered two common single letter variations (SNPs) in the sequence of the human genome that appear to account for 99 per cent of cases of exfoliative glaucoma (XFG). The scientists from deCODE genetics and colleagues from the National University Hospital in Rekjavik...[Read More]

Fertility treatment in UK remains inadequate

13 August 2007 - by Danielle Hamm

A survey conducted by the Infertility Network UK (I N UK) and sponsored by the UK Department of Health (DH) has shown that the provision of IVF treatment in the UK does not meet government guidelines. The survey indicated that provision of NHS fertility treatment is patchy...[Read More]

NIH ES cell lines are 'not created equal'

13 August 2007 - by Rose Palmer

A study carried out by a team of American researchers has revealed that not all embryonic stem (ES) cell lines are created equal. Led by UCLA's Yi Sun and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Thomas Sudhof at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the study, which...[Read More]

Senator blocks US genetic discrimination legislation

13 August 2007 - by Antony Blackburn-Starza

Proposed legislation geared to protect individuals in the US against genetic discrimination has been blocked by Senator Tom Coburn, who is concerned over it's 'lack of precision' and 'unintended consequences' if the bill becomes law. The Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act (GINA) would make it illegal for employers...[Read More]

Fertility doctor granted reprieve by HFEA

13 August 2007 - by Katy Sinclair

Mohammed Taranissi, reputed to be the world's richest fertility doctor, has been granted a temporary reprieve by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), in order that his appeal might be heard. Last month, Dr Taranissi, chief medical director of the Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre (ARGC...[Read More]

Human Tissue and Embryos Bill report attacked

13 August 2007 - by Katy Sinclair

Lord Alton of Liverpool has attacked the Joint Committee report on the proposed Human Tissue and Embryos Bill, claiming that it 'misses the point'. His remarks are specifically aimed at the Bill's provision for human-animal hybrid embryo research, which the Committee has recommended be put to a...[Read More]