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Britain OKs Hybrid Human Cloning Combining Animal and Human DNA
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Members of the British Parliament, on a lopsided vote, approved allowing scientists to make hybrids combining animal and human DNA in human cloning attempts. The House of Commons rejected an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that would have prevented it. MPs voted 336 to 176 against the amendment from Tory former minister Edward Leigh. He said the use of hybrid clones cross an "entirely new ethical boundary," and turn the UK into a scientific "rogue state." "In many ways we are like children playing with landmines without any concept of the dangers of the technology that we are handling," he said, according to a Press Association report. Members of parliament also voted 286 to 223 to reject a second amendment that would have prohibited so-called "true hybrids" using the sex cells of a human and an animal. Any human embryos created with human and animal DNA would be killed 14 days after their creation. Scientists say they want to engage in human cloning to obtain more embryonic stem cells for research even though they've never helped patients with diseases. The votes are the first in a series of votes on amendment to the bioethics bill and others will likely try to limit late-term abortions, allow just one doctor to sign off on abortions and deal with other issues like in-vitro fertilization. Full story at LifeNews.com.

National Right to Life Convention

The 36th Annual National Right to Life Convention is coming to Washington, DC. Connect with pro-life leaders from across the Nation and learn the newest information from experts in their fields. The Convention is a vital experience for pro-life leadership. This is an experience you will not want to miss!

FDA Delays Company's Bid for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Trials
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Food and Drug Administration has delayed a request from a biotech company wanting to engage in human trials with embryonic stem cells. While adult stem cell research has already helped patients with dozens of diseases, embryonic stem cells have never been tried in humans. That's because embryonic stem cells have significant problems when used in animals. They tend to form tumors after the cells are injected as a treatment and immune systems reject the cells as foreign. Neither problem occurs with the use of adult stem cells. FDA officials met with representatives of Geron Corp. and Advanced Cell Technology Inc. last month to discuss the possibilities. Both companies have been claiming for years they were ready to start human trials but pro-life advocates are concerned problems still remain. Yet, both say they plan to start human trials this year and are requesting FDA approval to do so. Both claim to now have tumor-free experiments involving animals. On Wednesday, the FDA notified Geron’s chief executive Thomas Okarma that the company cannot proceed and indicated a letter with more explanation about the decision is forthcoming. The decision is likely only to delay the human trials rather than to stop them from proceeding eventually. Full story at LifeNews.com.

New Poll Claims Majority of Americans Favor Legalizing Assisted Suicide
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll finds a majority of Americans would support their own state following Oregon's lead and legalizing assisted suicide. The results, if accurate, should be a concern for pro-life advocates who are working hard to stop Washington and other states from following suit. Knowledge Networks conducted the survey online and about 66 percent of the 1,100 people polled said they would favor legalizing assisted suicide. Other results from the survey showed more than 80 percent of Americans believe neither the government, the church nor a third party should decide when people should have a right to die. Yet the poll also found just 50 percent of Americans over 60 and only 25 percent of younger people have a living will or some other form of advanced directive spelling out their medical treatment decisions. The survey also found half of Americans think they could become the primary caregiver for an elderly family member or friend. The result of the survey don't mesh with other polls showing a much lower level of support for assisted suicide. A September 2007 Harris Poll found only 39 percent supported "physician assisted suicide" with another 31 percent opposing it and 21 percent not sure of their position. Backers of assisted suicide were much less strongly supportive of it than those who oppose the practice. Full story at LifeNews.com.

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