OPINION is divided on the embryo research Bill which would allow the creation of hybrid embryos.
The process involves injecting the 'empty' egg of a cow or rabbit with human DNA.
The resultant embryos would be 99.9 per cent human and 0.1 per cent animal, from which stem cells can be extracted.
For
Because the animal cell's nucleus is removed from egg before human DNA is added, scientists say, the resulting eggs would not be an entity.
Implanting the eggs into a woman or animal will be forbidden and embryos must be discarded after use.
Scientists say research will help to develop cures for debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis.
Against
Opponents, including many pro-life groups, say embryo research is unethical.
Some scientists, like Prof John Gurdon, who has injected human DNA into frogs' eggs, are also sceptical.
'Scientifically...I'm not persuaded it will work. If you put cells from one species into the egg of another, the egg may divide, but you could get a lot of genetic abnormality that won't lead to good-quality stem cells,' he told The Guardian newspaper in Britain.