Currently the UK seems to be ahead in the field of generating human cloned stem cells. Korea will be out of the running for a bit.
Currently, Stojkovic has the first paper describing partial success. But he really laments the quality of donated eggs (currently the UK only uses eggs that have been rejected for reproductive purposes, so are likely to be lower quality.)
However, the watchdog is thinking about liberalising the laws.
BBC
Women could be allowed to donate their eggs for therapeutic cloning research under new rules to be considered by the fertility watchdog.
So-called 'altruistic' donation is to be debated by the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority on Wednesday.
I highly recommend writing these people and offering your ethical support for allowing fresh eggs to be donated. We benefit from this a) because it will speed research in this area if scientists are allowed proper resources and b) because someday YOU will be able to get cloned stem cells made of yourself for therapies.
A hand-written note to your MP and this group will go a LONG way to helping it out. Just state that ethically you see the product of SCNT as being VERY different from a true embryo and that you support this type of research. Keep it simple.
The sooner you write this letter, the better. Please. Take 10 minutes of your time. Maybe ask fellow brits to help out.
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
21 Bloomsbury Street
London
WC1B 3HF
Tel: 020 7291 8200
Fax: 020 7291 8201
E-mail: admin@hfea.gov.uk
