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LONDON — British plans to allow scientists to use hybrid animal-human embryos for stem-cell research won final approval from lawmakers Wednesday.
The House of Commons also clarified laws that allow the screening of embryos to produce babies with suitable bone marrow or other material for transplant to sick siblings. The legislators voted 355-129 to authorize the proposals.
Opponents warn an easing of laws on creating embryos could lead to the genetic engineering of human beings.
The process involves injecting an empty cow or rabbit egg with human DNA. A burst of electricity is then used to trick the egg into dividing regularly, so that it becomes a very early embryo, from which stem cells can possibly be extracted.
