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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 16: 16: Clause 4, page 4, leave out lines 22 to 29 and insert— ““(a) an embryo created by replacing the nucleus of an animal egg or of an animal cell, or two animal pronuclei, with— (i) two human pronuclei, (ii) one nucleus of a human gamete or of any other human cell, or (iii) one human gamete or other human cell, (b) any other embryo created by using— (i) human gametes and animal gametes, or (ii) one human pronucleus and one animal pronucleus,”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, the Bill seeks to bring within legislation certain types of part-human, part-animal embryos, which in the Bill are referred to as ““interspecies embryos””. It is now intended that these will be called ““human admixed embryos””. The definition of ““human admixed embryos”” found in new Section 4A(5), as introduced by Clause 4, breaks down into four components, representing the four methods of creating a human admixed embryo. New Section 4A(5)(a) represents those embryos created by the fertilisation of a human egg with an animal sperm, or an animal egg with a human sperm—or other techniques that create the same type of embryo. These are commonly referred to as ““true hybrid embryos””. New Section 4A(5)(b) represents embryos created by cell nuclear replacement—a technique used in cloning, which combines human cells and animal eggs. They are commonly referred to as ““cytoplasmic hybrid embryos”” or ““cybrids””. New Section 4A(5)(c) represents embryos created by genetically modifying the cells of a human embryo using animal DNA. These are commonly referred to as ““transgenic human embryos””. Finally, new Section 4A(5)(d) represents embryos created by attaching one or more animal cells to a human embryo. These are commonly referred to as ““human-animal chimera embryos””. On the introduction of the Bill to the House, it was brought to our attention that the definition of ““cytoplasmic hybrid embryos”” in new Section 4A(5)(b) contained a loophole. As drafted, the category expressly excluded the use of human cells of the female and male germ line, which can be used to create cytoplasmic hybrid embryos. Germ cells are the cells of the body that lead to the formation of gametes and the gametes themselves. Amendments Nos. 19 and 20 therefore remove this express exclusion. In addition, to ensure that it is clear that germ line cells are covered, new Section 4A(5)(b) is amended to include the use of human gametes. Gametes are defined as including cells of the female or male germ line. These amendments ensure that cybrids created using any human cell types will be caught under the Bill. Much of the debate regarding the human admixed embryos has centred on getting the correct definitions. This amendment ensures that the Bill will bring all the necessary entities within the regulation of the HFEA. I invite noble Lords to accept the amendment. I beg to move.