LONDON, England, August 28, 2002 (LSN.ca) – A frozen stem cell bank for British researchers will be approved next month, on or about September 11, and begin storing vast numbers of cells from human embryos, as well as adult stem cells, for experimentation. It is reported that between 1991 and 1998 alone, 184,000 “surplus” frozen British human embryos from the IVF industry were stored, while 238,000 were destroyed.
According to a report in the London Times, “most scientists believe that foetal stem cells will be the easiest to manipulate and use.” The proposed stem cell bank, to be operated by Britain's Medical Research Council and regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, “will contain both foetal and adult stem cells.” Britain's Parliament has given approval to the harvesting of human embryos for embryonic stem cells, up to the age of 14 days.
To read BBC coverage see:
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2220823.stm