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LONDON - Scientists confirmed yesterday that they have created human-animal "hybrid" embryos for the first time in Britain in a bid to develop new stem-cell treatments for disorders such as Parkinson's disease, stroke and diabetes.
The scientists merged human genetic material with cow egg cells that had most of their own genetic material removed.
The resulting hybrid embryos were genetically 99.9 per cent human and 0.1 per cent cow.
The research is still preliminary and has not yet been verified in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, but scientists at Newcastle University insisted the results were valid, the hybrid embryos surviving for three days in the test tube.
"The work was licensed in January and is under way.
"Some progress has been made but it's not yet the done deal, however it's generating excitement because of the current political debate," said Newcastle University's Professor John Burn.
Lyle Armstrong, who led the research team, presented the preliminary findings of the project at a conference in Israel.
The Catholic Church has opposed the research. However, scientists believe that the work is essential.
- INDEPENDENT
