Christians Join Human-Animal Embryo Debate
Christian experts join panel at public meeting on whether to allow research into human-animal embryos.
by Maria Mackay
Posted: Thursday, June 28, 2007

Christians were among those on a panel of experts debating the scientific and ethical-moral implications of creating human-animal hybrid embryos during a public meeting by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

The HFEA held the meeting in Central London on Tuesday night as part of an ongoing consultation with the general public to assess their level of support for the creation of human-animal embryos.

The consultation follows an application to the HFEA from the University of Newcastle for a licence to begin research on the creation of human-animal embryos and their stem cells.

The meeting was hosted by Nick Ross, TV presenter and Director and Trustee of the UK Stem Cell Foundation. Panel members included Dr Lyle Armstrong, lecturer in Stem Cell Biology at the University of Newcastle, Christians in Science member the Rev Dr Stephen Bellamy, Vicar of St James’ Church Birkdale, in Southport, and John Cornwell, Director of the Science and Human Dimension Project at Jesus College, Cambridge. the rest