Nod to hybrid embryo research

By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

London

Oct. 23: The bill on the controversial human-animal embryo research was passed by the House of Commons on Wednesday. The bill, which will now be discussed and voted on in the House of Lords, was passed by the Lower House of Parliament by 355 votes to 129 votes.

There was a small rebellion by backbench Labour MPs over the bill and 16 of them, including former minister Ruth Kelly, who quit the government before the reshuffle by Prime Minister Gordon brown, voted against the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

The bill will allow scientists to create hybrid human-animal embryos for research and creation of "saviour siblings" whose genetic material could help sick relatives. The creation of embryos from a combination of human and animal genetic material will be allowed under the law once bill is passed. Stem cells can then be harvested and used to create brain, skin, heart and other tissue for treating diseases - before the embryos are destroyed.

Mr Brown in March faced opposition within the Labour Party against the controversial legislation and was forced to allow Labour MPs free vote on three "crucial elements" of the bill.