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14-day rule on human embryo research – why do scientists want it lifted?

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A clear sphere containing 4 pink coloured cells
A fertilised egg divides into the cells of an early embryo(Design Cells/Getty Images)

The "14-day rule" has governed most research on human embryos for decades.

It was decided by scientists, ethicists, religious leaders and others.

Laws vary from country to country, but it means scientists are banned from doing research on embryos older than 14 days.

Until recently, that was physically impossible anyway — embryos couldn't survive outside of a womb for that long.

Now the International Society for Stem Cell Research has revised its guidelines, recommending the ban beyond 14 days be lifted.

Why? And who should get to decide if that happens?

Embryos older than 14 days can't be used for research. Scientists want that changed

Guests:

Dr Kirstin Matthews
Fellow in Science and Technology Policy
Baker Institute for Public Policy
Rice University
USA

Professor Megan Munsie
Professor in Ethics, Education and Stem Cell Policy
University of Melbourne
Australia

Professor Jose Polo
Professor in Anatomy & Developmental Biology
Polo lab: Epigenetics and Reprogramming
Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute
Monash University
Australia

Further information:

2021 Update to Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation
International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)

Rethinking embryo research policies
Kirstin Matthews et al, 2021

Limit on lab-grown human embryos dropped by stem-cell body (2021)

Stem-cell guidelines: why it was time for an update (2021)

Risks rise as ISSCR drops strict 14-day rule on human embryo growth in the lab (Paul Knoepfler 2021)

Toward Guidelines for Research on Human Embryo Models Formed from Stem Cells (2020)

Modelling human blastocysts by reprogramming fibroblasts into iBlastoids (2021)
Nature, 591, pages 627–632 (17 March 2021)

National Health and Medical Research Council Statement on the above Nature paper

Embryo Research Licensing Committee (Australia)

Human embyros grown in lab longer than ever before (2016)

National human embryo and embryoid research policies: a survey of 22 top research-intensive countries (2020)

Should the 14‐day rule for embryo research become the 28‐day rule?

Embryology policy: Revisit the 14-day rule (2016)

1979 Department of Health, Education report into Research involving IVF and Embryo Transfer (USA)

1984 "Warnock Report" of the Committee of Inquiry into Human Fertilisation and Embryology (UK)

Credits

Broadcast 
Science and Technology, Biology, Community and Society, Bio Ethics, Stem Cells, Reproduction and Contraception, Medical History, Medical Ethics, Medical Research
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