Stricter rules for animal testing called to

July 21, 2011, 23: 56 GMT updated by reporter James Gallagher health, BBC News Professor Christopher Shaw says that there must be "clear barriers" to stop some experiments that may be possible in the futureBetter regulation is necessary to govern research rapid expansion in animals containing human tissue or genes, says the Academy of medical sciences.

He said that these studies were necessary for medical research, but that new ethical issues may emerge and called for a national body of experts.

He said experiments "category three" in Monkey Brains, resulting in "human" behaviour, should be prohibited.

The Government said it would consider the recommendations.

Dr Robin Lovell-badge, from the National Institute for medical research, said: "everyone laughs at talk between cats with thumbs and opposable, but if we were really doing in laboratories do not think people would be so happy".

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final quote damaged stroke mice displayed some recovery when their brains were injected with neural stem cells human, which has led to human clinical trials."

Mice with Down syndrome have a human chromosome in its genome to help researchers learn more about the condition.

Professor Christopher Shaw, King College of London and one of the authors of the report, said animals with material human is "enormously important." Will [the field] diminish and disappear? No. "I am sure that it will lead to new treatments."

The Academy report said it was anticipating "a significant increase in the use of these techniques".

However raised concerns that some cases fall through gaps in the regulation.

The authors said that, for example, experiments in an embryo containing predominantly human material could be controlled by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the embryo could not move beyond 14 days. Embryos which are mostly animals, but it contains some human material, said there was "no regulation at all".

Animal research is regulated by the Ministry of the interior animal procedures Committee.

Professor Martin Bobrow, President of the Academy of medical sciences, said: "our report recommends that the Ministry of the interior places instead of a national body of experts, within the existing system of strict regulation of animal research, provide specific advice on sensitive types of research of animals containing human material".

The Academy recommends three classifications for research in animal containing human material.

The majority would be "category one" and they have more than any other study in animals.

'Valuable study'

Experiments of two category could afford, but "it would require strong scientific justification". The report suggested that this would include adding genes to non-human primates and significant changes to the animal to make it "more human-like".

Three experiments of category would not be allowed as leave any mixed embryo develop past 14 days or breeding of animals influenced human sperm or cells egg and modify non-human primates to raise awareness of or human behavior.

Professor Bobrow was keen to stress that "no one has done any of these things", but the Academy of medical sciences said that he wanted to guidelines in place rather than wait until the horse was added.

Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone said: "welcome the valuable contribution of this study to the understanding of the problems of welfare ethical, scientific and complex animals that in this field of research."

"We will consider the recommendations carefully."

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