Britain's early decision to regulate all research on human embryos has had its costs.
Also, therapeutic procedures would be permitted on embryos so long as they were aimed at healing.
And many oppose research on human embryos, which they regard as nascent life.
Such a national board might take up cases that involve difficult new issues, in areas like experimentation on embryos.
That does not mean no scientist has ever worked on human embryos.
But the patent is on only nonhuman embryos produced by the process, though it does seem to cover human cells.
Finally, and not for the first time, I want to express my concern about research on human embryos.
Attitudes towards research on human embryos differ from one Member State to another.
In conclusion, we must not permit any research on embryos.
He opposed cloning and federal funding of research on new embryos.