Westminster Diary

James Plaskitt MP

15 May 2008

WE will soon be voting on whether to authorise the use of ‘hybrid embryo’ research. This is an immensely important decision, rightly to be taken on a free vote. I will be voting in favour, and should explain why.
I can completely understand why most people, hearing the phrase ‘hybrid embryo’ instinctively react against this idea. It conjures up images of the grotesque.
But in truth it isn’t anything like that. The science can be complicated and hard to explain, but, in view of the high level of interest in this, I want to have a go – in order to help reassure those who start with understandable doubts.
The need to legislate at all arises because the science is progressing ahead of the current law – which is now nearly 20 years old. We need to extend the scope of regulation in order to ensure that what is done is ethical and justifiable. It is the ‘hybrid embryo’ bit which is new, and which now needs to brought clearly within the regulations administered by our much respected Human Fertility and Embryology Authority.
The latest developments concern the use of stem cells in helping us understand, and eventually hopefully treat, a wide range of diseases. Stem cells are our body’s basic building blocs. They are formed during the very first stages of cell division within the egg – they are there after just four or five days. The vital point about embryonic stem cells is that they can develop into anything within our bodies. Scientists can use them to understand how cells go wrong (become a disease) and how we might correct the error (cure the disease). The potential to get to this understanding via embryonic stem cells is far greater than by any other currently known means.
Stem cells for research are currently derived from human eggs – the by-product of IVF treatment. Human eggs are in short supply. But it has been discovered that human stem cells can be developed within an animal egg shell. It works like this. The nucleus (DNA) of the animal egg is removed. What gives it animal identity is therefore gone. A human cell can them be implanted into the empty egg. It is then electrically stimulated to begin division, thus creating lines of stem cells. The stem cells are human. They are available after just a few days. The host must be destroyed within 14 days, by which time it is still smaller than this full stop. The egg cannot by law be implanted or allowed to develop.
So it isn’t in fact a ‘hybrid’ at all. No animal and human chromosomes have been mixed. Nor is it what we generally understand by an ‘embryo’ – because it hasn’t been fertilised in the normal way and is in no way a sentient being. The process is really ‘cell nuclear replacement’ – but that’s a mouthful. ‘Hybrid embryo’ is easier – but unfortunately in this case misleading.
I’m voting for a clause in this Bill that will allow the HFEA, under strict regulation, to authorise this type of research. If it fulfils its promise, it might in due course in fact steer us away from the need for human embryo research. This research – although not yet guaranteed in its results – shows more promise than anything else. It would, in my view, therefore be morally wrong to prevent it going ahead.
If you are still anxious to know more, I have placed further detailed explanation on my website – www.jamesplaskitt.com

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