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London: MPs voted on Monday on far-reaching changes to Britain's laws on fertility research, including controversial proposals to allow scientists to create hybrid human-animal embryos.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for 'unequivocal backing" for the measure to help create stem cells to find cures for conditions like Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.
Animal cells
Scientists say they need to be able to make the hybrids, created by transferring the nucleus of a human cell into an animal cell, because of a shortage of donated human eggs.
But some religious groups have condemned the proposal and concerned MPs have submitted an amendment banning the technique.
"They are creating what is ethically quite wrong, something which is animal and human, and that goes against every kind of moral teaching we have ever known," Conservative MP Edward Leigh said.
Brown has given Labour MPs a free "conscience" vote on this issue.
Britain is one of the leading states for stem cell research, attracting international scientists with a permissive environment that allows embryo studies within strict guidelines.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which regulates the research, gave permission to two groups of British-based scientists to use hybrids in January.
The House of Lords rejected attempts earlier this year to include a ban on hybrid research in the draft legislation.
MPs will also be voting today on amendments by pro-life lawmakers to reduce the legal abortion limit to as low as 16 weeks from the current 24 weeks.
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