Human Embryo Experiments

David Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2008, Official Report, column 659W, on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, what account was taken of the status of pro-nuclei as non-equivalent to the nucleus of an embryonic cell in developing the provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 7 July 2008]: A single cell embryo contains two pro-nuclei. One contains the nuclear Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (DNA) from the sperm and one contains the nuclear DNA from the egg. The two pro-nuclei form the entire complement of nuclear DNA within the single cell embryo. Upon division of a single cell embryo the DNA of the pro-nuclei replicates, and following cell division the two cells each contain a single nucleus. In the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill the DNA within the pro-nuclei of a single cell embryo, and DNA within the nucleus of any other cell, are given equivalence. This ensures that clauses in the HFE Bill which refer to nuclear DNA, are also referring to pro-nuclear DNA. It means that, even though a pro-nucleus and a nucleus are not scientifically equivalent, clarity is provided for the purposes of the prohibitions and licensing on the HFE Bill.