London - The British parliament Monday passed controversial legislation that will allow the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos for medical research. In the House of Commons vote, the government proposals were passed with 336 to 176 votes, a majority of 160.
The ruling Labour Party of Prime Minister Gordon Brown received the backing of the opposition Conservatives and Liberals in a free vote.
A number of Labour members of parliament (MPs) were known to have voted against the proposals on the grounds of conscience.
MPs rejected an amendment by Conservative Edward Leigh to ban the research, which he branded "Frankenstein science" that was "ethically wrong and medically useless."
Earlier, Prime Minister Gordon Brown had his explicit backing to the creation of human-animal embryos, which he says could save millions of lives.
Meanwhile, churches and pro-life groups condemned the plans as "immoral."
British scientists last month became the first in Europe to create such a chimeric embryo by placing the nuclei of human cells into empty cow eggs.
The resulting embryos are more than 99 per cent human, with a small animal component of 0.1 per cent. They will be allowed to grow for 14 days before being destroyed.
Scientists argue that the research could help in the fight against such conditions as motor neuron disease, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.
Brown, whose 22-month-old son Fraser is suffering from cystic fibrosis, appealed to members of parliament (MPs) to "help ourselves and future generations," but said he has "deep respect" for those who reject the move because of "religious conviction."
Two licences to create this type of hybrid embryo have already been granted by the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority watchdog in Britain, following the production of such an embryo by a team at Newcastle University in April.
Outside Europe, scientists in the US, China and South Korea have created human-animal embryos, also known as cytoplasmic hybrids or "cybrids."
The British bill is aimed at updating current legislation which goes back to 1990. Because of its delicate nature, MPs were given a free vote and were not tied to a party line.
Parliament was also expected to vote on the issue of so-called saviour siblings - babies born because they are a tissue match for a sick older sibling that can be treated with cells from the baby's bone marrow or umbilical cord.
The embryology bill also includes a provision that would grant automatic parental rights to gay and lesbian couples, as well as singles, who conceive by sperm donation or surrogacy.
On Tuesday, MP's are scheduled to vote on proposals aimed at tightening Britain's liberal abortion laws, by deciding whether to reduce the current upper legal limits for abortions from 24 weeks to 22 weeks or even less.
