UK Approves Research on Human-Animal Embryos

British legislators have voted to allow scientists to create hybrid human-animal embryos for stem cell research, the Daily Telegraph reports. The new laws will give British scientists more freedom to pursue hybrid research than those of any other country. The vote passed by a huge margin after supporters of the research argued that it could someday save millions of lives.

Religious leaders had spoken out strongly against allowing the embryos to be created, and some lawmakers remain firmly opposed. "No other country is going down this route," said one. "In these terms in embryology we would almost be like a rogue state. We cannot and should not be spliced together with the animal kingdom."   (More embryo stories.)