London, England, Oct 24, 2008 / 02:45 am
In what one pro-life leader called a “deadly day in the history of Britain,” the House of Commons on Wednesday approved legislation allowing scientists to create animal-human hybrids for medical research. The bill also allows the creation of “savior siblings” genetically matched to sick siblings and eases access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for lesbians and single women by eliminating requirements for clinics to consider a child’s need for a father.
The Human Embryology and Fertilization Bill passed by 355 votes to 129, Agence France Presse reports. The bill now heads to the House of Lords and could become law by November.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown backed the measure citing its potential to help future generations. Brown’s son has cystic fibrosis, a disease which could reportedly benefit from future embryo research.
Sixteen MPs from Brown’s Labor Party, including the Catholic former minister Ruth Kelly, voted against the bill.