News,

Embryos have been developed from whole frozen sheep ovaries for the first time. Researchers in Israel removed ewes' ovaries, froze them, thawed them and then tranplanted them back into the ewes. In some of the sheep ovulation resumed, and ova were recovered and used to create embryo sheep. Dr Amir Arav and his team at the Institute of Animal Science believe that whole-ovary-freezing could one day be used on humans. Their aim is to preserve the fertility of women undergoing cancer treatment. Co-researcher Yehudit Nathan said: "We hope that it will not take more than a few years for this to become a practicable option for women." [BBC News, 14 September]

A British woman, who is fighting to save her frozen embryos from being destroyed, is taking her case to the European Court of Human Rights. Natalie Evans, 33, is challenging the decision made at the UK Appeals Court, which ruled that she was not allowed to use embryos fertilised with the sperm of her ex-partner Howard Johnston. The embryos were created following IVF treatment but soon afterwards the couple split up and Mr Johnston removed his consent for the embryos to be implanted in her womb. Ms Evans said: "This is my last hope. If the European Court agrees with me, the UK decision will be overturned. But if they say I can't use the embryos to have children then that's it. I guess they will destroy them." [This is Gloucestershire, 14 September]

The answers of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts to questions about abortion have been welcomed by members of the pro-life movement. It is thought that, although he avoided making a commitment to overturn Roe v. Wade, he described the legal groundwork by which the high court could reverse the decision. Roberts said that a precedent like Roe could be overturned based on erosion, workability and reliance as well as "extensive disagreement." Pro-abortion groups have criticised Mr Roberts' answers. Kim Gandy, the president of the pro-abortion National Organization of Women said: "What he said repeatedly was that he was not willing to state his position beyond what his writings were on Roe v. Wade, but did give, in my opinion, and in the opinion of a number of people, he did give a roadmap for overruling Roe. He basically laid out several ways that a Roberts court, unlike the Rehnquist court, could and I think would, overrule Roe." [Life News, 14 September]

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