Stem Cell Research: Report from the Select Committee, Volume 1The Committee was appointed in March 2001 to examine the issues arising from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001. These regulations extended the legal grounds for research on human embryos to include the increase of knowledge about the development of embryos or serious disease, or to enable such knowledge to help in the development of treatments for serious diseases. The Committee's report analyses the potential of stem cell research to generate new therapies, and assesses the relative scientific advantages and disadvantages of research on embryonic and adult stem cells. It considers the ethical concerns about the use of early human embryos for research purposes and the implications of developments in cell nuclear replacement and reproductive cloning. The report discusses the current regulatory regime and the scope for future legislation, including the issue of informed consent and the creation of stem cell banks. Overall, the Committee finds that there is a strong scientific and medical case for continued research on human embryonic stem cells in order to realise the full therapeutic potential of stem cell research. Adult stems cell research holds the promise of future therapies which might make further research on embryonic cells unnecessary, although this is unlikely in the foreseeable future. In the meantime, to ensure maximum medical benefit, it is necessary to keep both routes to therapy open since neither alone is likely to meet all therapeutic needs. The role of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is crucial to the effective regulation of research and maintenance of public confidence. |
Contents
Background | 3 |
THE STATUS OF THE EARLY EMBRYO | 20 |
CELL NUCLEAR REPLACEMENT AND CLONING | 26 |
Copyright | |
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adult stem cells animal applications arguments Baroness basic research blastocyst cell nuclear replacement cell types Chapter clinical CNR for research creation of embryos debate Department of Health developing treatments differentiation Dolly the sheep donated donors early embryo early human embryos embryonic stem cells embryos created embryos for research ensure ethical evidence Fertilisation and Embryology foetus genes genetically identical Geron Corporation give rise HFEA human cloning human dignity human ES cells Human Fertilisation human reproductive cloning implantation increasing knowledge informed consent issues legislation licence mitochondrial disease normally oocyte oocyte nucleus transfer paragraph permitted person pluripotent possible potential of adult potential of stem Professor prohibition Regulations regulatory regime research on early research on human research purposes serious disease specialised cell specific sperm stage stem cell bank stem cell lines stem cell research stem cell-based therapies surplus embryos therapeutic potential transplanted treatments for serious United Kingdom