Rabbit eggs may be used for stem cells

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Scientists in Scotland are planning to create animal-human embryos cloned from human skin cells and unfertilized rabbit eggs.

Ian Wilmut of Edinburgh University and Chris Shaw of King's College in London want to clone rabbit-human embryos for stem-cell research, the Independent reported Friday. Wilmut is credited for having cloned Dolly the sheep.

The moved is considered to be a way around the Human Fertilization and Embryology Act, which stipulates that human embryos created by cloning cannot be allowed to survive beyond the 14-day stage of development.

However, the HFEA Act does not cover the creation of animal-human embryos, according to the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority.

The scientists will need a license for animal-human embryo research.