Human Embryo Research

Japanese scientist to use human-animal hybrids to create organs

Michael Cook | A Japanese stem cell scientist has obtained permission to create human-animal chimeras and transplant them into surrogate animals. Hiromitsu Nakauchi, a researcher at the University of Tokyo and at Stanford University, plans to insert induced pluripotent human cells into mouse embryos. His ultimate aim is to grow human organs in animals. . . continue reading

Spanish and US scientists go to China to create human-monkey chimeras

Michael Cook | In a stunning example of evading ethical controversy by exporting it, Spanish and American researchers have created monkey-human chimeras in China. The hybrid embryos will be destroyed after they develop a central nervous system and will not be brought to term.. . . continue reading

Another team of researchers call for the 14-day limit on embryo experimentation to be scrapped

Michael Cook |An international team of bioethicists and scientists has advised scrapping the 14-day limit that restricts how long researchers can study human embryos in a dish. Going beyond this policy limit could lead to potential health and fertility benefits. . . continue reading