Cameron reveals plight of disabled son to explain backing for embryo research

Published on 20/05/2008 22:16

DAVID Cameron, the Tory leader, yesterday explained his reasons for backing legislation allowing research on human- animal hybrid embryos – citing the example of his own disabled son, Ivan.

Mr Cameron said he believed the issue was one of individual conscience and merited a free vote, but he believed it was vital for medical science to be allowed to advance in this area.

He said: "If you think of the people you see on television over the last 24 hours with motor neurone disease and terrible diseases like that, we have got to do more to try and crack those diseases.

"I have a son with epilepsy and cerebral palsy and when I look at how he suffers I think, 'If you could do anything to stop him suffering and stop other children suffering, shouldn't we try?'

"When we look at what are called animal-human hybrid embryos, it is not some Frankenstein monster we are creating, it is about taking an egg from a cow and injecting a bit of human DNA, keeping it for only 14 days, it is not going to be implanted into anybody."

Mr Cameron's remarks come after "pro-life" MPs suffered a setback when a series of amendments they had tabled to the Human Embryology and Fertilisation Bill were comfortably defeated in the Commons.

One amendment banning the creation of hybrid human- animal embryos for the purposes of stem-cell research was voted down by 336 to 176.

Scientists believe cures for degenerative conditions such as Parkinson's and motor neurone disease may be a step closer after MPs supported a change in the rules governing embryo research.

Hybrid embryos which mix human and animal cells may sound like something out of horror film, but the reality is far less extreme.

Only "true hybrids" would involve human sperm fertilising an animal egg and the other types of hybrid would involve minor genetic modifications, where animal tissue is incorporated into a human egg or vice versa.

The resulting embryo would only be allowed to develop for less than 14 days, so stem cells could be harvested.

These immature cells have the ability to develop into a variety of body tissues, so could be used to create brain, skin, heart and other tissue for treating diseases.

Scientists claim this would be particularly useful due to the shortage of human eggs which are available for research.

Some researchers believe hybrid embryos are essential in the search for cures to degenerative conditions such as Parkinson's and motor neurone disease.

But critics say there is not enough evidence to support this and fear tampering with nature in this way is unethical.