After a huge outcry from scientists and patient groups, the U.K. has proposed legislation allowing the development of human/animal chimera embryos for research. Public Health had proposed banning the chimeras, triggering an outburst from critics who maintain the embryos are crucial for research into Parkinson's and other maladies. The animal/human embryos can be used in place of human eggs, which are often difficult to come by. The substitute is made by removing an animal cell nucleus and replacing it with the nucleus of a skin cell from a patient with a disease being studied. The hybrid is used to create embryonic stem cells for research. Under law, the chimeras would not be allowed to grow beyond 14 days and then would have to be discarded.
- here's the report from The Independent