Critics are charging that the work contemplated under the license will involve killing innocent human beings, while proponents of the research deny that characterization and speak of the potential for embyonic stem cell research to prevent and treat illnesses, and possibly save lives.

The license reportedly will allow Professor Ian Wilmut, the scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep, along with other researchers at the Institute, to study motor neuron disease -- in particular, in those patients whose condition cannot be linked to the genes already identified as causing it.

Strictly Defined Research Guidelines

The Institute will use the cloning technique to study stem cells made with the genetic material from patients with motor neuron disease. Using these embryonic stem cells, researchers can study its development in patients who do not have the genes that currently are known to cause it. While these embryonic stem cells would not be used to correct the disease, the study of these cells could help develop future treatments.

“The HFEA’s role is to ensure research on human embryos is only carried out when it is viewed as necessary under strictly defined guidelines, outlined in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990), says Angela McNab, Chief Executive of the HFEA.

“We recognise that motor neuron disease is a serious congenital condition," she notes. "Following careful review of the medical, scientific, legal and ethical aspects of this application, we felt it was appropriate to grant the Roslin Institute a one-year licence for this research into the disease.”

Technique for Making Stem Cells

The stem cells are made by combining skin cells (donated by patients with motor neuron disease whose condition cannot be linked to the genes already known to cause the disease) with eggs donated by women.

The nucleus containing the genetic material is removed from the egg and replaced with the nucleus of the donated skin cell.

The egg is activated and allowed to grow into a 5-6 day old embryo. Cells from the embryo are removed for development into embryonic stem cells.

Approved Research Purposes

Research on human embryos is allowed only for certain purposes. Under the initial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990), the HFEA could grant licenses only if it was satisfied the use of human embryos was for one of the following purposes:

• To promote advances in the treatment of infertility;

• To increase knowledge about the causes of congenital disease;

• To increase knowledge about the causes of miscarriages;

• To develop more effective techniques of contraception; or

• To develop methods for detecting the presence of gene or chromosome abnormalities.

• Increasing knowledge about the development of embryos;

• Increasing knowledge about serious disease; and

• Enabling any such knowledge to be applied in developing treatments for serious disease.

Human reproductive cloning is illegal in the UK. As a result of the Human Reproductive Cloning Act (2001), nobody in the UK is allowed to use cell nuclear replacement, or any other technique, to create a child.

The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The HFEA’s principal tasks are to license and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor insemination (DI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.