UK university’s success with hybrid embryos

Speaking at the BIO biotechnology conference in San Diego this week, project leader Dr Lyle Armstrong, who is based at the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI), revealed that 270 embryos have been made by inserting human DNA into cow eggs since the project began in January, according to the Financial Times.

Finding better ways to make human embryonic stem cells is the long-term objective of our work and understanding reprogramming is central to this.

Dr Lyle Armstrong

NESCI

This is easier than the researchers had expected, the expert said, although the resultant embryos tend to stop developing at the 32-cell stage.

Dr Armstrong pointed out that research using human-animal hybrids can be done on a greater scale than human eggs, as around 200 cow eggs can be easily obtained a day, compared to eight to ten human a month.

He also told how the research project is important in discovering the inner workings of cells and how to reverse their development, potentially eliminating the need for embryos in medical testing.

"We are in a transitory phase now. In 20 years there will be little need for embryo research," Dr Armstrong said.

NESCI was granted permission to carry out human-animal embryo research earlier this year and highlighted the potential advances it could lead to in the treatment of degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and other conditions, including strokes.

At the time, Dr Armstrong commented: "Finding better ways to make human embryonic stem cells is the long-term objective of our work and understanding reprogramming is central to this.