Too Early To Use Animal Cells, Says Chief Scientist

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday September 14, 2006

Mark Metherell

AUSTRALIA'S Chief Scientist, Jim Peacock, has intervened in the embryo stem cell debate, urging the deletion of a provision opponents have claimed opens the way to animal-human hybrids.

Dr Peacock yesterday rejected the hybrid claims, made by cloning critics including the Health Minister, Tony Abbott, but said most scientists argue there could be complications using animal eggs to "incubate" stem cells.

Use of animal eggs, recommended by the Lockhart review, would not mean "interchange of genetic material" but complications could be caused by interactions between the different organisms.

"Ideally I think we should in these early stages not introduce the potential of animal eggs," he said.

Dr Peacock put his view at a briefing of about 50 MPs by leading scientists in Canberra.

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