Research on human embryos is only allowed for certain purposes, outlined in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990) and the subsequent Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001:
- 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
- To develop methods for detecting the presence of gene or chromosome abnormalities
- To increase knowledge about the development of embryos
- To increase knowledge about serious disease
- To enable any such knowledge to be applied in developing treatments for serious disease
The use of embryos in stem celli research can only be carried out with authority from the Human Fertilisation and Embryo Authority (HFEA). Licences are only granted if the HFEA is satisfied that any proposed use of embryos is absolutely necessary for the purposes of the research.
Licensed research can only take place on embryos created in vitro - embryos that have developed from eggs fertilised outside the body. Most embryos used in UK stem cell research are embryos initially created for use in fertility treatment, but not used. These "surplus" or "supernumerary" IVF embryos, if donated with full consent of the parents, can be used for research.
Licensed research can only take place on embryos up to 14 days. Stem cells are isolated from the blastocysti much sooner than this – at 5-6 days.
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.